Weekly ER Capacity Report — Quebec — April 27 to May 3, 2026
Emergency department data show relatively stable overall crowding compared with the previous week, with modest variation compared with the same period last year.
Key Metrics
Provincial average ER capacity: 85.6% Same week previous year: 84.3%
Average patients waiting >24 hours: 4.5 Average patients waiting >48 hours: 1.4
Highest reported capacity during the week: 260%
Time Window
This analysis covers:
Current week: April 27, 2026 → May 3, 2026
Comparisons:
Previous week: April 20, 2026 → April 26, 2026 Same week last year: April 28, 2025 → May 4, 2025
Provincial Overview
Emergency departments across Quebec reported stable overall crowding during the week of April 27 to May 3, 2026 compared with the same week one year earlier.
Across all reporting regions, the provincial average emergency department capacity was 85.6%, compared with 84.3% during the same week in 2025.
Indicators associated with prolonged emergency department stays declined slightly.
The average number of patients waiting more than 24 hours was 4.5, representing a modest decrease compared with the same period last year.
The average number waiting more than 48 hours was 1.4, also slightly lower than the comparison period.
Taken together, these indicators suggest a broadly stable level of operational pressure compared with the same period last year, with some improvement in prolonged wait times.
Week-Over-Week Change
Comparing the week of April 27 to May 3, 2026 with the immediately preceding week (April 20 to April 26, 2026) shows a slight decrease in overall capacity levels.
Average capacity declined from 86.8% to 85.6%.
During the same period:
Patients waiting >24 hours: 5.1 → 4.5 Patients waiting >48 hours: 1.8 → 1.4
Short week-to-week changes should be interpreted as normal operational variation rather than structural system changes.
Regional Standouts
While many regions reported relatively stable or slightly lower capacity, several regions stood out for either notable improvements or localized increases in pressure.
Largest Year-Over-Year Improvements
Chaudière-Appalaches reported a decline in average capacity from 126.3% to 104.9%.
Estrie reported a decline from 74.8% to 63.9%.
Both regions also showed reductions in prolonged wait indicators, consistent with lower overall demand compared with the previous year.
Regions With Increased Pressure
Gaspésie–Îles-de-la-Madeleine reported an increase in average capacity from 43.0% to 62.6%.
Mauricie-et-Centre-du-Québec reported an increase from 67.7% to 85.7%.
These increases were accompanied by moderate changes in prolonged stay indicators, suggesting localized shifts in demand.
Mixed Signals
Some regions showed mixed patterns, where capacity levels and prolonged waits did not move in the same direction.
This variation highlights how emergency department pressure can shift across regions even when provincial averages remain relatively stable.
Data Coverage
This analysis includes emergency department reporting across Quebec administrative health regions with available data.
Coverage for April 27 to May 3, 2026 includes:
Regions analyzed: 16 Emergency department installations: 115 Total records analyzed: 19,312
Comparison period April 28 to May 4, 2025:
Installations: 108 Records analyzed: 8,438
The dataset was complete for all reporting regions with available data, though one region did not report during the comparison period.
Methodology
This article summarizes reported emergency department operational metrics across Quebec for two matching seven-day periods and the preceding week.
Provincial averages are calculated as record-weighted means across all reporting installations.
Reported maximum and minimum capacity values represent the highest and lowest readings recorded anywhere in Quebec during the analyzed week.
Capacity percentages and prolonged-stay counts represent reported operational load only and should not be interpreted as measures of clinical safety.
Informational Use Statement
This summary is based on publicly reported emergency department data and is provided for informational purposes only.