A recent report sheds light on challenges within British Columbia’s health-care system. According to findings from the Montreal Economic Institute (MEI), approximately 143,000 individuals in B.C. left emergency rooms without receiving treatment last year, despite undergoing triage. Long wait times emerged as a major concern among patients.
Emmanuelle B. Faubert, an economist at the MEI, highlighted that in 2024, 5.5% of ER visitors in B.C. departed without treatment. Notably, the severity of these cases remains uncertain due to the province’s lack of tracking in comparison to other regions.
While B.C.’s departure rate is below the national average of 7.8%, signifying around 1.2 million untreated patients nationally, Faubert emphasized the importance of reducing this figure. Despite performing better than most provinces, with Prince Edward Island facing a 14.2% departure rate, she stressed that any patient leaving without treatment signifies a failure of the health-care system.
Various factors such as a growing and aging population, insufficient urgent care centers, limited access to primary care, staff shortages, and overwhelmed healthcare professionals contribute to the congestion in emergency rooms. Faubert warned that delayed treatment could worsen health conditions, potentially leading to severe outcomes, including fatalities.
Furthermore, the research revealed that many individuals who initially left ERs seeking medical attention returned weeks later for the same concerns, illustrating inefficiencies in the system.
The MEI proposed three recommendations to address the issue, including pursuing private care options to streamline access, reduce bureaucratic hurdles, and enhance treatment efficiency.