Report Highlights Crisis in Island ERs

Prince Edward Island has the highest rate in Canada of patients leaving emergency departments without receiving care, according to a new report from the Montreal Economic Institute (MEI). Data obtained through a freedom of information request to Health P.E.I. revealed that in 2024, 14.15% of Islanders visiting ERs left without treatment, nearly double the national average of 7.78%.

Scope of the National Problem

The think tank found that almost 1.3 million Canadians left ERs before being seen by a doctor or nurse last year. Manitoba followed P.E.I. with 13.23%, while other provinces posted significantly lower figures. The findings highlight a widening gap between patient demand and the health system’s ability to respond.

Reasons Patients Walk Away

Long waits and lack of available staff were cited as the main reasons people leave untreated. “If you need emergency treatment in Canada, you’d better be a very, very patient person,” said MEI vice-president of communications, Renaud Brossard. He noted many of those who left were considered lower-priority cases that could have been managed by a family physician.

Impact of Primary Care Shortages

Health P.E.I. medical director Dr. Ken Farion agreed that limited access to family doctors forces patients into emergency rooms for non-urgent issues. “Unfortunately, some feel the ER is their only option,” he said, pointing to shortages of walk-in clinics and challenges in staffing hospitals. More than 35,000 Islanders remain on the province’s patient registry awaiting a primary care provider.

Efforts to Improve Access

To reduce pressure, the province is directing patients without a family doctor to virtual options such as Maple and Pharmacy Plus. Recruitment campaigns for physicians and nurse practitioners are underway. Experts say expanding nurse-practitioner-led and pharmacist-run clinics could divert non-emergency cases away from hospitals, giving ER staff more capacity to treat serious conditions.

Broader Healthcare Implications

While alternative care models may help, Brossard cautioned that they cannot solve every problem linked to ER overcrowding. Still, he argued they could lighten the load for emergency physicians and improve outcomes for patients with genuine emergencies. The report underscores how P.E.I.’s struggle is part of a larger national issue: when primary care gaps persist, emergency departments become the default safety net—and patients pay the price.

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Province Moves to Protect Islanders from Rising Heat

Prince Edward Island’s Chief Public Health Office (CPHO) is taking action to protect residents from the rising threat of extreme heat. After facing three heat waves in 2024—starting as early as the last day of spring—the province has secured federal funding to develop its first Heat Alert and Response System (HARS).

The funding from Health Canada will support a dedicated coordinator to build and implement the system over the next two years. Dr. Heather Morrison, P.E.I.’s chief public health officer, confirmed the initiative aims to prevent heat-related health crises by preparing the public in advance.

Warming Trends Signal Urgent Need for Action

Environment Canada issues heat warnings when temperatures surpass 28°C for two consecutive days and nighttime temperatures remain above 18°C. In recent years, such warnings have grown increasingly frequent across the country—including in P.E.I., which until now lacked a formal heat response plan.

Dr. Morrison stressed the urgency: “Extreme heat events in other provinces have led to a rise in mortality. We want to prevent these kinds of tragedies from happening here.”

Canada’s Deadly Heat History Raises Alarm

P.E.I.’s move comes amid sobering national statistics. In 2021, a devastating “heat dome” in British Columbia claimed 619 lives over five days. Quebec lost 280 people to extreme heat in 2010.

These incidents underscore the deadly potential of sustained high temperatures. As climate change intensifies, heat waves are expected to grow more frequent, longer, and more dangerous—especially for vulnerable populations like seniors, people with disabilities, and low-income communities.

Blueprint for the New Heat Alert System

The upcoming HARS will follow Environment Canada’s existing criteria to determine when alerts are triggered and lifted. It will include public communication campaigns focused on heat safety, awareness, and response protocols.

“Systems like this work,” said Peter Berry, a senior policy analyst advising Health Canada on climate issues. “They help people locate nearby cooling centres, and can mandate longer hours for splash pads or pools—simple but life-saving interventions.”

The plan will also prioritize community engagement to ensure inclusive access, particularly for residents who face barriers such as mobility issues or lack of transportation.

Aiming for Prevention, Not Just Reaction

The long-term goal of the initiative is clear: reduce emergency room visits, hospitalizations, and fatalities caused by extreme heat. Dr. Morrison emphasized that proactive measures—such as awareness and access to cooling solutions—can dramatically reduce the health burden on the province.

“If we can activate HARS early, get people to safe, cool spaces, and educate Islanders on staying cool, we can prevent illness before it happens,” she said.

Bottom Line

With climate change making extreme heat a new normal, Prince Edward Island is preparing to protect its people through education, coordinated alerts, and lifesaving infrastructure—before the next heat wave strikes.

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