The NHS has made significant progress in patient wait times for key procedures under the provincial government’s new Wait Time Strategy and anticipates wait times will improve.
The province of Ontario has expanded its wait time reporting to include all adult and paediatric surgical areas. Through the wait times website, Ontarians can now find wait times for all surgical areas performed and diagnostic CT and MRI procedures at hospitals across the province.
Emergency Department Wait Times
Wait times for both minor and complex patients in Emergency Room Departments are now posted publicly for hospitals across Ontario, including the Niagara Health System. This Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care (MOHLTC) initiative is the first of its kind in North America.
The total time spent in an ER is measured beginning when a patient registers, continues as the patient receives diagnostic/lab tests and treatment, and ends when the patient is either discharged or admitted to a hospital bed.
ED Wait Times
*Please note that the ER information is not real-time information and should not be used to assess the time you may spend in the ER today. If you believe you need immediate emergency care, please go to your nearest emergency room.
*Please note that the ER information is not real-time information and should not be used to assess the time you may spend in the ER today. If you believe you need immediate emergency care, please go to your nearest emergency room.
Number of ER visits:
| Month | SCG SITE | GNG SITE | WHS SITE |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr-09 | 3,797 | 3,831 | 2,190 |
| May-09 | 3,794 | 3,996 | 2,329 |
| Jun-09 | 3,695 | 3,897 | 2,288 |
| Jul-09 | 3,762 | 4,082 | 2,305 |
| Aug-09 | 3,850 | 4,030 | 2,226 |
| Sep-09 | 3,651 | 3,624 | 2,164 |
| Oct-09 | 4,104 | 3,959 | 2,410 |
| Nov-09 | 3,708 | 3,556 | 2,170 |
| Dec-09 | 3,602 | 3,464 | 2,127 |
| Jan-10 | 3,626 | 3,454 | 2,101 |
| Feb-10 | 3,333 | 3,211 | 2,002 |
| Mar-10 | 3,696 | 3,478 | 2,167 |
| Apr-10 | 3,330 | 3,185 | 1,909 |
| May-10 | 3,432 | 3,408 | 1,999 |
| June-10 | 3,268 | 3,414 | 1,953 |
| July-10 | 3,868 | 3,909 | 2,213 |
| Aug-10 | 3,397 | 3,354 | 2,085 |
| Sep-10 | 3,364 | 3,189 | 1,880 |
| Oct-10 | 3,415 | 3,341 | 2,041 |
| Nov-10 | 3,303 | 3,374 | 2,152 |
| Dec-10 | 3,386 | 3,535 | 2,132 |
| Jan-11 | 3,430 | 3,443 | 2,141 |
| Feb-11 | 3,015 | 3,202 | 1,960 |
| Mar-11 | 3,398 | 3,673 | 2,194 |
| Apr-11 | 3,285 | 3,637 | 2,041 |
| May-11 | 3,388 | 3,790 | 2,161 |
| Jun-11 | 3,041 | 3,765 | 2,088 |
| Jul-11 | 3,056 | 3,651 | 1,989 |
| Aug-11 | 3,079 | 3,717 | 2,039 |
| Sep-11 | 3,291 | 3,540 | 1,984 |
| Oct-11 | 3,271 | 3,477 | 2,014 |
| Nov-11 | 3,175 | 3,392 | 1,845 |
| Dec-11 | 3,133 | 3,361 | 1,908 |
| Jan-12 | 3,217 | 3,301 | 1,896 |
| Feb-12 | 3,023 | 3,508 | 1,847 |
| Mar-12 | 3,459 | 3,822 | 2,013 |
ED/UCC Wait Times
*Please note that the ER information is not real-time information and should not be used to assess the time you may spend in the ER today. If you believe you need immediate emergency care, please go to your nearest emergency room.
*Please note that the ER information is not real-time information and should not be used to assess the time you may spend in the ER today. If you believe you need immediate emergency care, please go to your nearest emergency room.
Number of ER/UCC visits:
| Month | PCG SITE | DMH SITE | OSS SITE |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr-09 | 1,579 | 1,683 | 2,895 |
| May-09 | 1,616 | 1,555 | 2,965 |
| Jun-09 | 1,567 | 1,498 | 2,857 |
| Jul-09 | 1,639 | 1,708 | 2,882 |
| Aug-09 | 1,618 | 1,683 | 3,019 |
| Sep-09 | 1,577 | 1,459 | 2,863 |
| Oct-09 | 1,957 | 1,800 | 3,340 |
| Nov-09 | 1,676 | 1,569 | 2,752 |
| Dec-09 | 1,673 | 1,349 | 2,799 |
| Jan-10 | 1,543 | 1,435 | 2,716 |
| Feb-10 | 1,562 | 1,304 | 2,609 |
| Mar-10 | 1,740 | 1,395 | 2,974 |
| Apr-10 | 1,665 | 1,601 | 2,704 |
| May-10 | 1,904 | 1,669 | 2,895 |
| June-10 | 1,926 | 1,614 | 2,814 |
| July-10 | 2,046 | 1,892 | 2955 |
| Aug-10 | 1,957 | 1,742 | 3,079 |
| Sep-10 | 1,815 | 1,552 | 2,794 |
| Oct-10 | 1,762 | 1,529 | 2,799 |
| Nov-10 | 1,716 | 1,404 | 2,608 |
| Dec-10 | 1,895 | 1,630 | 2,612 |
| Jan-11 | 1,985 | 1,625 | 2,710 |
| Feb-11 | 1,813 | 1,591 | 2,453 |
| Mar-11 | 1,961 | 1,671 | 2,655 |
| Apr-11 | 1,864 | 1,532 | 2,603 |
| May-11 | 1,889 | 1,783 | 2,815 |
| Jun-11 | 1,925 | 1,704 | 2,657 |
| Ju1-11 | 1,907 | 1,723 | 2,485 |
| Aug-11 | 1,868 | 1,651 | 2,587 |
| Sep-11 | 1,761 | 1,511 | 2,528 |
| Oct-11 | 1,722 | 1,566 | 2,512 |
| Nov-11 | 1,865 | 1,498 | 2,380 |
| Dec-11 | 189 | 1,600 | 2,462 |
| Jan-12 | 1,730 | 1,381 | 2,415 |
| Feb-12 | 1,885 | 1,500 | 2,436 | Mar-12 | 2,048 | 1,534 | 2,651 |
Definitions:
Total Time Spent in ER: The maximum amount of time 9 out of 10 patients spend in an ER being diagnosed, receiving treatment or waiting for admission to a hospital bed. Most patients spend less time, while one out of ten patients will spend more time.
Provincial Target: Ontario has two targets for time spent in ER:
- up to 8 hours for patients with complex conditions requiring more time for diagnosis, treatment or hospital bed admission
- up to 4 hours for patients who have minor or uncomplicated conditions requiring less time for diagnosis, treatment or observation
Provincial Average (Time Spent in ER): The time spent in ER value calculated from all time spent in ER data submitted in Ontario.
Complex conditions/requiring more time for diagnosis, treatment or hospital bed admission: Refers to the maximum amount of time 9 out of 10 patients with complex conditions requiring more time for diagnosis, treatment or hospital bed admission spent within the ER from the time they register to the time they leave the ER.
Minor or uncomplicated conditions/requiring less time for diagnosis, treatment or observation: Refers to the maximum amount of time 9 out of 10 patients with minor or uncomplicated conditions requiring less time for diagnosis, treatment or observation spent within the ER from the time they register to the time their visit is complete and they leave the ER.