Ontario hospital warns 'much longer' than expected emergency department wait times
An Ontario hospital is warning patients to anticipate “much longer” than expected wait times due to “rapidly changing demands” in their emergency department.
“Due to rapidly changing demands in our Emergency Departments at Markham Stouffville Hospital and Uxbridge Hospital, individuals seeking care may experience much longer than expected wait times,” Markham Stouffville Hospital said in a statement released Thursday night.
Dr. Andrew Arcand, Chief of Emergency Medicine at Markham Stouffville Hospital, explained that their alert was rooted in three core issues: a sudden surge of patients, a lack of beds and a shortage of staff.
Arcand said an “ incredible flow of patients” entered the emergency department during the overnight period between Wednesday evening and Thursday morning. The significant influx led to a scavenge for beds, which led to some to patients residing in hallways.
That surge also led the hospital to release a staff callout for “all hands on deck.”
“Our current state since June has been really difficult and really challenging,” he said.
While the hospital is still encouraging people who need “serious medical attention” to visit their nearest emergency department, they are asking individuals with conditions not considered an emergency to seek alternative options.
“I do think that if you have a new symptom that you are worried about or that’s severe…we will not judge you, we will always see you,” Arcand said.
However, he suggested visiting urgent care walk-in clinics, virtual assessments or a family doctor’s office, for those who have.
Ontario Health data shows on average patients admitted to Markham Stouffville Hospital spent almost 14 hours in the emergency department, with only a third admitted within the province’s target time of eight hours.
Ontario Health Minister Sylvia Jones said that almost 90 per cent of individuals who walk into an emergency department have their condition dealt with within eight hours, which she described as an “acceptable amount of time” in an interview on CP24 on Aug 2.
As of Friday morning, Markham Stouffville Hospital’s emergency wait time after triage indicated that a patient is expected to wait an hour and a half to see a doctor or nurse practitioner. At that time, 18 patients were waiting in their emergency department, 56 had been triaged and 38 were being treated.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.6963286.1720919030!/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.jpg)
BREAKING Trump rally shooting latest: Shooter was a 20-year-old man from Pennsylvania, officials say
The shooting at former U.S. president Donald Trump’s rally in Pennsylvania is being investigated as an attempted assassination of the former president and presumptive Republican nominee, law enforcement officials say.
'Horrific act': Shooting at Trump rally condemned by Trudeau, Poilievre
Canada's prime minister and other leaders condemned political violence following a shooting at a Republican rally Saturday, during what appears to have been an assassination attempt targeting Donald Trump.
Long list of U.S. presidents have been shot or shot at
Multiple presidents and presidential candidates in U.S. history have been shot or shot at.
Biden says he's grateful Trump is safe after rally shooting, denounces political violence
U.S. President Joe Biden said in a statement Saturday he is grateful former President Donald Trump is safe after a shooting at his rally in Pennsylvania.
Eyewitnesses describe scene at Trump rally shooting: 'It's pure insanity'
Eyewitnesses described an awful scene following a shooting at former U.S. president Donald Trump’s rally in Butler, Penn., in which one person was killed and two others injured in what’s being investigated as a possible assassination attempt.
Canada loses on penalties to Uruguay in Copa America 2024 third-place match
Luis Suárez tied the score two minutes into second-half stoppage time, and Uruguay beat Canada 4-3 on penalty kicks after a 2-2 draw on Saturday night to finish third in the Copa America.
Obituary Richard Simmons, fitness personality and TV host, dead at 76, per reports
Richard Simmons, the perennial 1980s workout personality who was defined by his uplifting spirit, died in his Los Angeles home, according to multiple reports. He was 76.
Former B.C. Realtor has licence cancelled, $130K in penalties for role in mortgage fraud
The provincial regulator responsible for policing B.C.'s real estate industry has ordered a former Realtor to pay $130,000 and cancelled her licence after determining that she committed a variety of professional misconduct.
Should you wait to buy or sell your home?
The Bank of Canada is expected to announce its key interest rate decision in less than two weeks. Last month, the bank lowered its key interest rate to 4.7 per cent, marking its first rate cut since March 2020.