Out of interest, what do you consider a long wait in A+E? I’m British and we usually get triaged immediately but then we can wait 2-4 hours or so before we see a doctor.
Replies
I think 2 to 4 hours is a short waiting time, and I'm thinking that in the context of my age and experience being in the ER over ~50 years. 6 to 8 hours would be a very long wait.
aug 22, 2025, 4:55 pm • 2 0 • view
It depends also on the time of day you attend, and the moon phase, and here in Toronto, Canada the political phase, as every Conservative government that gets elected fires thousands of nurses right away, then in two years after the consequences hit hard, hire a bunch back,as if heros...
aug 22, 2025, 3:02 pm • 3 0 • view
This way, the get rid of higher costing nurses who have seen pay hikes to pay new nurses a starting wage, and they've saved two years of wages to pay them, and if reelected two years later, start the cycle all over again. But a 4 hr. wait (say, for stitches) not unusual. Kidneys, right away.
aug 22, 2025, 3:02 pm • 2 0 • view
Also, if you've come by ambulance (only $45) you get preferred treatment so as to release the EMTs who must stay with you until admitted.
aug 22, 2025, 3:02 pm • 4 0 • view
This is true ☝️
aug 22, 2025, 4:57 pm • 2 0 • view
In QC, if you’re under 65, ambulance ride is about $250. Over 65, it’s free. I think they might also pro-rate it depending on how serious it is. You can still wait in a hallway forever even if you come by ambulance, but they will attend to you pretty much right away.
aug 22, 2025, 3:22 pm • 0 0 • view
What? In Ontario, it recently dropped from $50 to $45.
aug 22, 2025, 4:56 pm • 0 0 • view
It could be 50 now. The last time I took an ambulance in April 2025 it was $45
aug 22, 2025, 11:36 pm • 0 0 • view
Yup. That’s what I was billed once.
aug 22, 2025, 6:49 pm • 2 0 • view
My dad was forced into retirement by the Harris government. Mum was a very experienced senior charge nurse - relegated to nights after administrators took over the hospitals. (she quit rather than do regular nights) My folks subsequently left Ontario to return to Quebec.
aug 22, 2025, 3:20 pm • 2 0 • view
"Constructive dismissal", even more heinous. I f'n hate the Conservatives, and even more now that they are really the Reform Party.
aug 22, 2025, 3:26 pm • 1 0 • view
Those basturds always pinching pennies to give their rich buddies more money. Feel the same with the CAQists, “secular” Christian nationalists “it’s our heritage …” grrrr don’t get me started.
aug 22, 2025, 3:36 pm • 1 0 • view
F'n Harris. PeePee is "most like him" according to a recent article I saw. Harris cut my sister's monthly benefits by $200/mo (single mom 4 kids). I tried to help giving her $100/mo out of my pocket.
aug 22, 2025, 3:25 pm • 0 0 • view
In the US, it’s not strange to hear stories of waiting in the ER for 6-8 hrs. They obviously triage but when the volume of patients is high and many hospitals are understaffed, you can only do so much.
aug 22, 2025, 2:43 pm • 2 0 • view
This seems to be a common big city problem here as well, one that could be partially solved by hiring / training more general practitioners or opening walk in clinics for those without a doctor. There is a serious lack of GPs here.
aug 22, 2025, 2:51 pm • 1 0 • view
Also I don’t live in the big city - I tend to find myself at smaller regional hospitals that are less likely to see high volume (two larger towns near me)
aug 22, 2025, 2:40 pm • 1 0 • view
It depends … triage is immediate. Allergic reaction: they see you quickly. I went for a possible detached retina last winter & was seen in an hour. Some complain of very long waits, many hours long. Depends too how busy that ER is …
aug 22, 2025, 2:32 pm • 4 0 • view