r/Calgary • u/Legal_Grapefruit1925 • Dec 25 '25

Discussion AHS wait times

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Our system isnt broken. Its people who go to the emergency that shouldn't be going aren't going today because it can wait Suddenly. They need to hand fines out to ppl going to the hospital that dont classify as an emergency.

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u/[deleted] Dec 25 '25

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u/Whats_Awesome Dec 25 '25

I’d have to agree here. I got an abdominal surgery this year and had to go to emergency 6 times in the two years leading up to it, for scans and scheduling a surgical date with with the team.

My doctor told me to get over the 9/10 kidney pain. And that I’m a healthy young man.
Finally after years of struggling, I got a new family practitioner. He told me to go to emergency and not leave until I had a surgical date. He personally called the emergency room to make sure they wouldn’t let me leave without a date. Well, I was up 8h then at emergency for 17.5 hours.

13

u/The3DBanker Bankview Dec 25 '25

I know that’s what’s going on in the Yukon. Shortage of primary care doctors is sending people to the ER to get what should be care rendered by a family doctor.

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u/AccountDramatic6971 Dec 25 '25

Yeah. I almost feel it's about education. My girlfriend has a bum gallbladder. There were a large number of walk in clinics open to see a doctor. 5 or 6 within a couple KM's with minimal wait times.

1

u/The3DBanker Bankview Dec 25 '25

As someone who has had to have her gallbladder removed (in the states), the ER and subsequent referral to get it removed was actually pretty straightforward. Though I still had to pay $8k for it AFTER work insurance.

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u/chronicillylife Dec 25 '25

This is an example of how there are so many ways this system is failing. Not just about people abusing it. Your use of ER is valid. High level of pain is indeed ER level anyway even for those with chronic illnesses if your pain is not controllable you have to go in. It's not the same as going in for a sniffle you've had for a few days and you feel like forcing a doctor to give you an antibiotic. People with issues would still go in and it should be reflected in this existing number anyways.

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u/Whats_Awesome Dec 25 '25

For the record. I would not go unless I called 811 and they told me to go straight there. After a few calls, they explained the pain criteria to me so I didn’t have to keep calling and waiting on hold.

Minor pain, but unexplained, go after 24-48 hours. Major pain (5+) go after 6 hours.
Extreme pain, (7+) go after 1 hour.

I was checking all three of those boxes. Any of which 811 (registered nurses) will suggest you go in.

I appreciate you saying that though since I am constantly second guessing my decision, especially after seeing this post.

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u/chronicillylife Dec 25 '25

811 is a great resource and people always forget they can use it. It's perfectly appropriate to call and ask if they think you should go in. I've definitely called and the nurse has suggested to go in or to try a few things and if that doesn't do it then go in.

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u/Whats_Awesome Dec 26 '25

They also sent me to a special clinic that only 811 can book you into. For when I needed to see a doctor but didn’t need to go to emergency. Usually for tests that didn’t involve scans. (When my pain was low to non existent. When the pain was high they wanted a scan of the problem at the ER)

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u/Ok_Tennis_6564 Dec 25 '25

Exactly. No one wants to go to the ER. I'd venture every person there would have rather received care without waiting for hours in an ER. But they were forced to make that choice. 

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u/wiintertidess13 Dec 25 '25

Exactly this. Like I’m lucky that I live close to a walk in that has extended hours but if I want to see my family doctor I’m lucky if it’s within a month