October 04, 2023
The number of Canadians who visit ERs across the country only to give up and leave before they receive any care increased more than fivefold since 2003. CIHI data show 184,753 people went to the ER for assistance in 2003-2004 and then left without medical attention aside from the initial nurse interview. In the two decades since, rates rose every year, aside from a small dip in 2020-2021 when Canadians were generally avoiding ER visits during the first part of the pandemic. There were more than 14 million hospital visits in 2022 and 963,637 patients left before receiving care, meaning one in 14 patients left without care.