Slippery sidewalks and freezing rain led to a surge in emergency room visits in Montreal on Monday morning, straining the already overwhelmed healthcare system during a severe flu season.
Several Montrealers ended up in emergency rooms, including seven individuals treated at the Centre hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal (CHUM) for fractures and concussions caused by slipping on icy surfaces. By Monday afternoon, CHUM’s emergency room was filled with 159 patients, with those on stretchers facing an average wait time of nearly 17 hours.
Véronique Wilson, Director General of Coordination, Access, Integrated Emergency, and Frontline Services at Santé Québec, acknowledged the challenges posed by the weather conditions, stating, “We are all working together to address the high number of falls and emergency calls due to the outside temperature, particularly in the Montreal-Laval region.”
The spike in injuries coincides with a sharp rise in influenza cases throughout Quebec. The Institut national de santé publique du Québec reported a significant increase in flu infections, surpassing last year’s peak with over 6,100 cases province-wide for the week ending Dec. 20.
As holiday gatherings contribute to the spread of respiratory viruses, Quebec Health officials anticipate a further uptick in emergency room visits. Wilson expressed hope that the flu peak would soon be reached, allowing the situation to stabilize.
Hospitals in Montreal, including the Royal Victoria Hospital, were operating well over capacity, prompting the McGill University Health Centre to advise residents to seek non-urgent care through the Info-Santé 811 hotline or their family doctors to alleviate pressure on emergency rooms.
Wilson emphasized the importance of utilizing Info-Santé services for health concerns, noting that a significant percentage of callers receive appropriate guidance without needing to visit the emergency room. While pediatric emergency rooms were less strained, officials highlighted the vulnerability of seniors and young people aged five to 19 during this flu season.
With emergency room occupancy already at 128 per cent province-wide on Monday morning, authorities warned that conditions could deteriorate further as flu season peaks.
