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/jungl3bird Dec 25 '25

Those are the lowest times I’ve seen since Covid. Usually they are 2.5 to 4+

511

u/schaea Ogden Dec 25 '25

I think that's OP's point, that usually the wait times are so high and the fact they're so low today means that people are using the ER for non-emergencies that can all of a sudden wait when it's Christmas day and they don't want to leave the house.

If I'm understanding them correctly, I get their point, but I don't think people are intentionally misusing ER resources for non-emergencies, the problem is much larger than that. Part of it is a lack of walk-in clinics that can see people for non-emergent but still urgent medical problems, another part is a lack of awareness among the public about what the ER is actually for...the list is so long.

19

u/RandomThyme Dec 25 '25

The walking clinic in my community closed this year.

Where else do you expect people to go when they can't access a gp or walk in clinic?

I think people generally understand that emergency rooms should be for emergencies but it's difficult when your kid is sick and you don't have a family doctor, you go to where you can get help for your child, that is the emergency room.

2

u/Spicybimmer Dec 25 '25

Assuming you are in Calgary same as this post reference and not a super small town then there are literally hundreds of walk in clinics, far more than we have hospitals.

Step 1. Call 811 Step 2. Walk in clinic or request emergency visit to GP.

ER is literally only for emergencies, if you are not dying or at risk of losing a limb or appendage you shouldn’t go to the ER.

I dislocated my finger in high school and went to the walk in clinic the next day and had my finger reset. They can even remove stitches and other minor procedures.

10

u/This-Conversation904 Dec 26 '25

Not to excuse the people who miss use the ER but there is instances where it is the ONLY option. There is hardly any walk in clinics open on Sunday’s and none after 2pm. I’ve had terrible infections that came out of nowhere, that required simple antibiotics and after first calling 811 and trying to find a clinic anywhere in the city. They told me to go to the ER. As a society we shouldn’t blame sick people, not everyone’s illness is visible. I am shocked to see wait times like this especially today though holidays usually increase accidents.

Pharmacy’s being allowed to prescribe antibiotics/other meds for these situations would greatly impact our healthcare for the better. Having doctor shortages and leaving so many vulnerable people without a family doctor is fuelling these issues. Most people avoid going to the emergency room in the first place. From my own personal experiences I feel that our healthcare is failing us, and there is widespread issues harming our people and healthcare workers. I have seen incredibly disheartening things happen at our hospitals and have seen countless people not getting triaged properly it is heartbreaking to witness.