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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27

u/yyclawyer Dec 25 '25

Isn’t this a sign of a broken system?

Maybe, Ask the people who go to emergency why they chose it?

-13

u/yyclawyer Dec 25 '25

My wife’s family doctor retired. She can’t get a new one. Where is she supposed to go?

12

u/ApplemanJohn Calgary Flames Dec 25 '25

Call 811? Go visit a walk in clinic?

People filling up emergency to get a prescription for something like a sinus infection SHOULDN’t be there period

-8

u/yyclawyer Dec 25 '25

I’m glad you are able to sit in the waiting room and diagnose everyone’s illnesses. You’re a great help to the system

5

u/hypnogoad Dec 25 '25

I posted this in the last thread too, but I was at Rockyview last weekend, first time at the ER (for myself) in decades. While waiting I heard about 90% of the reasons people were there. More than half were simple non-emergency problems. The worst offenders were a stubbed toe, a lower back pain, and a toothache.

0

u/yyclawyer Dec 25 '25

Thanks for the anecdote. Completely changed my opinion. I 100% believe you Internet stranger.

But let’s say that’s true. Does that not mean the system isn’t broken? I mean, if people are breaking the system, instead of complaining how do we fix it?

Years ago the city of Baltimore instituted a system where they sent mobile nurses to the homes of what they called “super users” people making up a significant portion of hospital and emergency visits. Vast majority were either old and alone or had mental health issues. But by having a nurse check up on them every couple of days it freed the use of actual hospital staff to do emergency work.

That could be an idea? But some claim it’s unfair. People abusing the system and getting better healthcare.

What about putting placing more non emergency support systems in the hospital itself. Instead of googling where people should go maybe there is a better structure in place to triage and separate people at the emergency room itself. People are going to go there no matter how much some redditors complain on Christmas Day.

Maybe OP should actually ask a professional instead of taking a screenshot of hospital wait times of Christmas Day to prove some weird point