A new Island Health feature that shows estimated wait times at emergency departments across Vancouver Island has just gone live, but questions about how accurate the data really is are already surfacing.
Starting July 3rd, the health authority launched a new webpage, allowing the public to view estimated wait times to see a doctor at eight major Island hospitals.
It’s part of a broader effort to give patients more information and options when deciding whether to visit the ER, including links to urgent and primary care centres and other community resources.
“This webpage is an excellent tool,” said Island Health Board Chair Leah Hollins in a media release. “Giving people more information about current conditions and care options will benefit both patients and care providers.”
But while the estimates are designed to help reduce frustration and support informed decision-making, not everyone is convinced they reflect the actual experience.
One Victoria resident, who asked to remain anonymous, told Victoria Buzz they visited the Victoria General Hospital on Wednesday afternoon. The posted wait time was just over nine hours—but they weren’t seen by a doctor for more than 18 hours.
After being triaged shortly before 2 p.m., they waited through the night, only being called into a room after midnight. By the time a doctor saw them—just before 8 a.m.—they had already spent 18 hours waiting.
In total, they were at the hospital for a full 24 hours before being discharged. The patient described the case as minor and said they were ultimately told to follow up with an ear specialist.
They noted that the posted wait time even increased while they were there, likely due to a helicopter arriving with another patient, but said the actual delay ended up being far longer than expected.
This isn’t a one-off concern. A recent report revealed that Victoria General Hospital and Royal Jubilee Hospital rank among the worst in British Columbia when it comes to emergency department wait times.
As of this publication, here’s what the new Island Health website currently shows for select hospitals:
- Victoria General Hospital: 8 hours 51 minutes
- Royal Jubilee Hospital: 8 hours 23 minutes
- Saanich Peninsula Hospital: 3 hours 54 minutes
Island Health says the wait times are generated using data from the same time and day over the previous eight weeks. The goal is to provide an estimate that’s accurate for 90% of patients, while reminding the public that people are always seen in order of medical urgency—not time waited.
Marko Peljhan, Island Health’s VP for acute clinical operations, acknowledged the demand for this feature and said staff are monitoring the rollout closely.
“We know this webpage has been highly anticipated,” he said. “There is the potential for rapidly changing conditions and fluctuating wait times… we ask for patience and understanding during the initial weeks.”
In response to ongoing frustrations, Island Health says it’s continuing efforts to hire more staff and reduce ER burdens by investing in services like urgent care clinics and home-based health care.
Over 800 new nurses are expected to join this year, and a new Urgent and Primary Care Centre (UPCC) has just opened in Nanaimo, with another set to launch soon in Cowichan Valley.
Still, for those spending the night in ER waiting rooms with little clarity or comfort, the new webpage may feel like a band-aid on a much deeper issue.
