Ontario ER Closures Drop in 2024, Rural Areas Still Struggle

ER closures in Ontario decline in 2024, but rural communities still bear the brunt. Staffing shortages persist as a critical issue.

, and Administrator

2025 October 1 . 12:28 AM

1 min read

This image is clicked on the roads. To the left, there is ambulance. To the right, there is a tent... — This image is clicked on the roads. To the left, there is ambulance. To the right, there is a tent under which many people are standing. There is also table and chair in the right of the image.

Ontario ER Closures Drop in 2024, Rural Areas Still Struggle

Ontario's emergency room closures have been a pressing concern, with over 50 instances recorded last year. However, a significant drop was noted in 2024 compared to previous years. These closures, primarily driven by nursing and physician shortages, have disproportionately affected rural and northern areas.

The regions most frequently impacted include smaller communities outside major urban centers. In 2023, the most reported instances of shut down departments occurred. Ontario Health mandates hospitals to notify it of major closures to the public. The Ontario Health Coalition estimates the number of closures using online notices and news stories.

Notably, hospitals were closed for more hours in 2022 than in 2023. Since July 2022, the number of emergency room closures has been dropping. The Ontario auditor general reports that most closures impact remote and rural hospitals. Significant closures in 2022 included Chesley hospital's emergency room shut from October to December, and Perth And Smiths Falls District Hospital's Perth site closed for over 500 hours in July.

While the number of emergency room closures in Ontario has been decreasing since mid-2022, the impact on rural and remote communities remains a critical issue. Addressing staffing shortages, particularly in nursing and physicians, is crucial to mitigate future closures.