Overcrowding in Townships emergency rooms

Flu season is still in full swing. Several emergency rooms in the Townships are beyond capacity with dozens waiting hospitalization.

For those who need to visit an emergency room, CIUSSS de l’estrie-chus spokesperson Geneviève Lemay said the website (www.santeestrie.qc.ca/accueil) is updated hourly, listing the how many beds are available and how many people are awaiting hospitalization at a given moment.

Lemay added that the website does not include any estimates for wait times, which she said are impossible to predict.

“The emergency room should be the last resort,” said Lemay, pointing out that the website also has resources available to help people determine what their best course of action should be.

It walks people through the steps of being worried about a possible health issue and where to start, to lists of symptoms that merit an emergency intervention.

Lemay said emergency room patients are always a mixed bag, but that cold and flu season is a big contributor to the current overcrowding.

Staying home and getting rest is the best first course of action, Lemay said. Calling Info-santé 811 can help in the decision-making process about seeking treatment, she added. A visit to a pharmacist or family doctor is another appropriate step to consider before heading to the emergency room.