TORONTO – Endless emergencies. There is no end in sight for the long waits in the Emergency rooms of numerous Ontario hospitals. As things stand, before receiving the necessary care, you may have to wait almost eight hours. Sometimes even longer. That may be the norm in the near future. 

Markham Stouffville Hospital and Uxbridge Hospital have started warning patients to expect “much longer” waits in recent days. This, despite continuing to encourage people in need of “serious medical care” to visit the nearest emergency room. It is asking those whose condition is not considered an emergency to look for alternative options. If you are “sick” it is usually an emergency. The situation is very serious.

Ontario Health data shows that, on average, patients admitted to Markham Stouffville Hospital spent nearly 14 hours in the emergency room, with only one-third hospitalized within the province’s target time of eight hours. Eight hours of waiting, until some time ago, might have seemed an exceptional event, but now, given the shortage of doctors and nurses as well as a greater number of people who go to emergency rooms, they have unfortunately become the norm. Ontario Health Minister Sylvia Jones said nearly 90 percent of people entering an emergency room are evaluated within eight hours, which she called an “acceptable period of time.” She did not explain the criteria for such an evaluation.

Until Friday morning, the waiting time to see a doctor or professional nurse at Markham Stouffville Hospital, after triage, was an hour and a half. At that time, 18 patients were waiting in the emergency room, 56 had undergone triage and 38 were being treated. This problem is bringing the Ontario health system to its knees. It also being felt in other provinces of Canada.

To discuss health, Premier Doug Ford will meet tomorrow with counterparts from Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island, as well as the Federal Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, Dominic LeBlanc. The finger of blame will still be pointed at the federal government. The provinces have already asked for the intervention of Ottawa to be bring an end to this crisis. Their talks will focus on the health pressures facing provinces across the country. In a press release issued by Ford’s office, they point to the urgent need for the federal government to play its part in finding a solution.

The measures required, they claim, “… include(s) the fact that the federal government is a true funding partner in carrying out our plan to rebuild and repair Ontario’s health system, as well as dramatically increasing the number of skilled immigrants, including skilled health workers, who can come to work in Ontario.” And elsewhere.

Today, Ford had already met in Halifax with his counterpart from Nova Scotia, Tim Houston, with whom he will meet again in Moncton. There he will have individual meetings with Premiers Blaine Higgs, Dennis King and Federal Minister Dominic Leblanc. The four leaders will then meet to take part in tomorrow’s combined Summit.