Approximately 500,000 Canadians left hospital emergency departments without being seen by a physician in 2024, as revealed by a data analysis conducted by CBC’s Marketplace. The actual number may be higher due to the reporting methods of British Columbia and Quebec, which extend into 2025. Analysis of 2024 data from most provinces and territories indicates that Prince Edward Island had the highest departure rate, with around 14% of individuals leaving before receiving medical attention. Manitoba followed with about 13%, and New Brunswick with approximately 12%. In contrast, Ontario had the lowest rate at roughly 5%.
Comparing the data to 2019, the trend shows a significant increase in the number of people leaving without being seen by a doctor. For instance, Newfoundland and Labrador reported a nearly doubled rate of departures since 2019, with over 35,000 individuals leaving the emergency department untreated in 2024.
Dr. Fraser MacKay, an emergency physician from New Brunswick and a board director of the Canadian Association of Emergency Physicians (CAEP), attributes this issue to prolonged wait times in emergency departments. He highlighted that patients leaving due to long waits often return in more critical conditions, illustrating the detrimental impact of delayed care.
The root causes of this problem are multifaceted, as per MacKay and other experts, including staffing shortages, a lack of primary care physicians, and the influx of boarded patients awaiting hospital beds. Efforts to address these challenges are ongoing, with provinces like New Brunswick and Manitoba taking steps to enhance patient flow and increase healthcare access.
In New Brunswick, where nearly 60,000 people left without treatment, a patient named Susan Gordon shared her regret for leaving the Moncton Hospital after enduring a chaotic wait. Her decision to depart led to a severe health crisis, underscoring the systemic issues within the healthcare system. Similar sentiments were echoed by families like the van der Werkens, who tragically lost their son due to prolonged wait times in an Ontario hospital.
As families advocate for change and justice, healthcare providers and government officials are under pressure to address the underlying issues contributing to patient departures and prolonged wait times in emergency departments nationwide. The push for reforms, such as Finlay’s Law in Ontario, aims to establish maximum wait times for pediatric patients in emergency settings, reflecting the urgent need for systemic improvements to prevent future tragedies.