Quebec ER Capacity Held Steady During the Week of May 18 to May 24, 2026
Emergency department data for May 18 to May 24 show little change in province-wide capacity compared with last year, though about a dozen facilities did not report data for the week.
Quebec emergency departments reported a provincial average capacity of 81.9% during the week of May 18 to May 24, 2026, matching the average recorded during the same period last year and edging slightly below the previous week’s level.
The figures point to a broadly stable week at the provincial level. Average ER capacity was unchanged from 81.9% during May 18 to May 24, 2025, and down modestly from 82.5% during the immediately preceding week, May 11 to May 17, 2026.
Indicators tied to longer emergency department stays were also largely steady. The average number of patients waiting more than 24 hours was 4.5, compared with 4.6 during the same week last year and 4.4 the previous week. The average number waiting more than 48 hours was 1.5, compared with 1.7 one year earlier and 1.5 the previous week.
The highest reported capacity reading anywhere in the province during the week was 300%.
Reporting gap limits full provincial comparison
The week’s data should be read with some caution because reporting coverage was incomplete.
Of 115 listed Quebec emergency department installations, 103 reported data during the May 18–24 period. That leaves 12 installations without current-week records. The analysis is therefore based on 17,279 reported records from facilities that submitted data.
The same calendar week in 2025 included 114 reporting installations and 8,213 records. Because the number of reporting installations differed between the two periods, year-over-year comparisons reflect the available reported data rather than a fully matched set of facilities.
Regional patterns varied
Several regions reported lower average capacity than during the same week last year.
In Estrie, average capacity fell from 76.8% in 2025 to 61.9% this year. Outaouais declined from 83.4% to 73.8%, while Laval moved from 153.7% to 148.0%.
Other regions reported increases. Lanaudière rose from 96.7% to 114.1%, while Capitale-Nationale increased from 66.5% to 76.6%. Gaspésie–Îles-de-la-Madeleine moved from 36.2% to 44.1%.
In Montréal, average capacity was 116.1%, compared with 113.1% during the same week in 2025. Montréal’s comparison is affected by a reporting difference: 17 installations reported during the current week, compared with 21 installations in the prior-year period.
How the figures were calculated
Provincial averages are calculated as record-weighted means across reporting emergency departments. Capacity percentages and prolonged-stay counts reflect reported operational load only. They should not be interpreted as measures of clinical safety or as guidance about where patients should seek care.
This summary is based on publicly reported emergency department data for May 18 to May 24, 2026, and is provided for informational purposes only.