The Winnipeg Regional Health Authority says it has seen a spike in the number of emergency room visits over the past 48 hours.
The WRHA released a statement saying about 900 people per day are reporting to ERs and health care staff say most of them have flu-like symptoms. On average, Winnipeg hospitals record between 700 and 750 emergency room visits a day.
That has lead to non-urgent wait times of more than 12 hours at some hospitals.
According to the WRHA website, as of 6:30 a.m. Monday, the longest wait time was at Grace Hospital, with an average wait of seven hours before treatment.
The non-urgent wait at Grace Hospital was listed at 10.5 hours. At Seven Oaks Hospital, the longest non-urgent wait time was almost 12 hours, but the average is at just over six hours.
St. Boniface Hospital, Concordia Hospital, Health Sciences Centre, and Victoria Hospital report average wait times between two to three hours.
The Children's Hospital reported no wait time at all.
The health authority says it has had to admit many patients into beds that would normally be for elective surgeries. Doctors working at hospitals over the holidays have been asked to take on extra patients.
In a statement, the WRHA said they want to assure Winnipeggers and Manitobans that those with serious injuries and illnesses will continue to be seen quickly across Winnipeg’s six emergency departments.
Those with minor or less severe injuries or illnesses can expect longer waits in emergency rooms as officials look after an increasing number of very ill people.
There alternatives to emergency rooms for non-urgent situations including:
- Misericordia Urgent Care Centre
- Mental Health Crisis Response Centre
- QuickCare Clinics
- PanAm Clinic
- Walk-in Clinics
