Hallway health care

Hallway health care (treating patients in the hallway of a hospital when all the rooms are full) is a reality in Ontario. There is no easy solution — it is caused by many large challenges facing the health system.

These challenges include:

  • patients with more complex medical needs and chronic issues
  • a system that is hard to navigate
  • pressure for the system to handle more patients
  • health care providers and caregivers who are stressed and overworked

What it means for patients

These complex factors all contribute to overcrowded hospitals where too many patients are:

  • waiting for hospital beds in unconventional spaces, such as hallways or meeting rooms
  • waiting too long to receive care
  • receiving care in places that don’t support rest, healing or recovery

Premier’s Council

The Premier’s Council was created on October 3, 2018. The council will provide the Premier of Ontario and the Ministers of Health and Long-Term Care with strategic priorities and actions leading to:

  • improved health and wellness outcomes for Ontarians
  • higher patient satisfaction
  • more efficient use of taxpayers’ dollars
  • lower wait times

Council members

The Premier’s Council is led by Dr. Rueben Devlin, Special Advisor and Chair, and is made up of 13 health system leaders. Council members represent a cross-section of health sector professionals, and provide senior administrative and frontline worker perspectives.

Learn more about the council members

Reports

  1. Hallway health care: A system under strain – January 2019
  2. A healthy Ontario: Building a sustainable health care system – June 2019

Video

In this video, Premier’s Council Chair Dr. Rueben Devlin, and Christine Elliott, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health and Long-Term Care talk about the council’s first report, Hallway Health Care: A System Under Strain.

Contact us

The Premier’s Council wants to hear from you.

Provide your feedback on the Council’s reports