Aug 05, 2022 in News --> Legal News

Ontario’s ER Stretched to Breaking Point (and Why You Should Be Worried)

"The emergency departments are on fire," says a registered nurse working in the ER of a large GTA hospital. Emergency departments have traditionally been fast-paced and busy places but are now being stretched to breaking point (once again). 

Summertime is when caseloads are expected to ease, and COVID-19 cases are reducing. It is concerning that emergency departments across Toronto and the GTA are facing unprecedented influxes of patients and extended emergency wait times. 

What Do Over-Capacity ERs Mean for Patients?

With doctors and nurses struggling to keep up with admissions, patients are left experiencing long ER wait times and improvised care. Some particularly overburdened hospitals are taking more than two days before allocating beds to admitted patients. Until that happens, patients are being asked to wait on stretchers in makeshift rooms in hallways, creating what is being described as a "gridlock."

Paramedics are facing the brunt, too, having to wait with ambulance patients because there aren't nurses available to take over.

Long ER Wait Times Mean Falling Standards of Care and Worse Patient Outcomes

Overworked doctors and nurses are, unsurprisingly, more prone to making mistakes. In a Statistics Canada study, nearly a fifth of Canada's overworked nurses admitted to making medication errors "occasionally" or "frequently." 

And it's not that doctors are immune either–they are more than twice as likely to report a perceived medical error when they are close to burnout.  Delays in treatment contribute to longer stays in the hospital for patients and significantly increase the risk of death.

Why Are Toronto and GTA Emergency Wait Times So Long?

Though the COVID-19 caseload is declining in ERs, the rate of staff becoming unavailable to work because of COVID-19 exposure remains high. This is being compounded by vacancies in nursing and a falling nurse-to-patient ratio. 

Cathryn Hoy, president of the Ontario Nurses' Association, says, "Our existing staff shortages are actually getting worse. There's burnout. They're sick. They're highly stressed."

Rollover from COVID-19 is to blame, too–patients who had avoided seeking treatment during the pandemic are now more severely ill. Hospitals are backed up on procedures and surgeries, meaning hospital wards are filled.

"...Our Hospital Is Running Well Over 100 Per Cent Capacity Pretty Much Every Day" 

Dr. Andrew Arcand, chief of emergency medicine at Markham-Stouffville Hospital, says unprecedented numbers of patients are being made to wait in the emergency department for a bed to become available. "We are seeing more numbers, more volumes than ever before," he says. 

Nevertheless, hospitals are urging people to visit the ER for urgent care. Doctors and nurses are providing immediate attention to those requiring emergency care.

Talk to Our Medical Malpractice Lawyers

Patients, especially those visiting the ER, are entirely reliant on medical professionals providing a high standard of care. If you believe that you, or someone you know, may have been injured due to the actions or omissions of a medical professional, speak to us. 

Book a free, no-obligation consultation to discuss your concerns and understand your options.