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Long waits in the ER: how triage works and what to do if you want to leave

ERs see patients by severity in five levels, not by arrival. Tell the triage nurse if you get worse; if you want to leave, ask whether it is safe and which symptoms mean coming back at once.

Updated 2026-10-13

People who arrive later get seen first because of triage

Canadian emergency departments use the CTAS scale, which sorts patients into five levels by severity rather than by arrival time. Fraser Health states that the sickest patients are seen first, regardless of when they arrived or whether they came by ambulance. [1][2]

LevelTarget time to see a doctor
Level 1Immediately
Level 215 minutes
Level 330 minutes
Level 41 hour
Level 52 hours

These are targets, not guarantees. When the department is busy, actual waits run past them. [1]

More people leave without being seen

Data CBC obtained through freedom of information show that visits in which BC emergency patients left without seeing a doctor rose from 76,157 in 2018–19 to 141,961 in 2024–25, an increase of about 86%. [3]

If you get worse while waiting

If symptoms worsen during the wait, such as more pain, a higher fever, dizziness or harder breathing, go to the triage desk right away and say "I'm feeling worse." Fraser Health gives the same advice, and the nurse will reassess. [2]

You can also ask for an interpreter, which is free in hospitals.

If you decide to leave, tell the triage nurse first

If you decide not to wait any longer, it is advised to say this to the triage nurse first: [4][5]

  • I'm thinking of leaving. Is it safe for me to go?

The nurse can take another look and tell you which symptoms mean you should come back immediately and who to see for follow-up. Emergency guides from Nova Scotia Health and Newfoundland's Eastern Health give similar advice. If you leave without telling anyone, the hospital does not know about it if a problem develops at home. [4][5]

We could not find a written instruction to tell the nurse before leaving on any BC health authority website, so this relies on Nova Scotia and Newfoundland guidance as a reference. For chest pain, trouble breathing, stroke symptoms and similar problems, do not leave; call 911.

Next time you are unsure where to go

  • Call 811 first to ask where to go.
  • Less urgent problems may suit a UPCC. For injuries needing stitches or an X-ray, a UPCC with X-ray equipment is often faster.
  • Problems such as urinary tract infections or pink eye may be handled at a pharmacy.

These are general options; whether a site can treat you depends on its own guidance.

Sources