Wednesday, October 07, 2026
Ontario Launching New Emergency Department Action Team to Shorten Wait Times
$47 million investment in new Emergency Department Action Team will help 26 hospitals reduce wait times and improve patient care
The Ontario government is taking action to reduce wait times and improve the patient experience in emergency departments with the official launch of the Emergency Department Action Team (EDAT). Supported by an investment of more than $47 million, the EDAT will lead efforts to help 26 hospitals across the province reduce wait times and get patients the care they need as quickly as possible. This team will also apply Lean methodologies to streamline processes, identify and address bottlenecks and improve patient flow so people can receive timely, high-quality care when they need it the most.
“Ontario is investing historic amounts in our health-care system, including $101 billion this year, so we can connect more patients to convenient care close to home,” said Premier Doug Ford. “Our Emergency Department Action Team will leave no stone unturned in its mission to reduce emergency room wait times at Ontario hospitals, so patients and families get the care they need, when and where they need it.”
In fall 2025, the EDAT worked with five emergency department sites across three hospital organizations: The Ottawa Hospital, Windsor Regional Hospital and Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre. This work identified a series of operational, workforce and system-level factors that contribute to delays in patient care and increased pressure on emergency departments. It also identified practical changes to help patients move more quickly through assessment, diagnostics, admission and discharge. The five hospitals will begin implementing these recommendations over the coming months.
Building on this work, the province is marking the official launch of the EDAT with an investment of more than $47 million over four years to support its work. This will be a multi-year initiative targeting 26 emergency department sites where there is the greatest opportunity to reduce wait times and improve the patient experience. The team will work with hospitals to identify and address delays at key stages of the patient journey, helping people get the right care as quickly as possible.
“Our government is taking action to shorten wait times and ensure people have the best possible experience every time they enter an emergency department,” said Sylvia Jones, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health. “The Emergency Department Action Team will build on the work already underway across the province by delivering practical solutions that improve emergency services, reduce wait times and help patients get the care they need when they need it.”
The Ontario government continues to support emergency departments through targeted initiatives, including the ED Peer-to-Peer Program, ED Pay-for-Results Program and the ED Nursing Education, Retention and Workforce Program, which help hospitals improve patient flow, reduce wait times and strengthen access to emergency care. Between 2024-2025, Ontario saw year-over-year improvements in key emergency department performance indicators:
- Average ambulance offload time improved by over 20 per cent
- Average ED wait time to Physician Initial Assessment improved by 7 per cent
- Average ED length of stay for admitted patients improved by nearly 10 per cent
Through Your Health: A Plan for Connected and Convenient Care, the Ontario government continues to invest in improving emergency care, making it faster and easier for people of all ages to connect to the high-quality care they need, where and when they need it. This includes supporting access to care through Health811 and Health Care Connect, helping more people find the right care in the right setting and reducing unnecessary pressures on emergency departments.
Quick Facts:
- The EDAT will be chaired by Dr. Abdel-Rahman Lawendy, who will lead efforts to help 26 hospitals across the province reduce wait times and get patients the care they need as quickly as possible.
- Dr. Abdel-Rahman Lawendy has extensive experience as a surgeon, researcher and PhD scientist in London, Ontario. He is the J.C. Kennedy Chair in Orthopedic Surgery at the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University. He serves as the Orthopedic Division Head at London Health Sciences Center and St. Josephs Health Care Centre. Dr. Lawendy also established and serves as the Medical Director and Chief of the Nazem Kadri Ambulatory Surgical Centre, a high efficiency outpatient surgical centre at London Health Sciences Centre.
- Ontario is investing approximately $64 billion in major health infrastructure as part of the government’s plan to get shovels in the ground on more than 50 major hospital projects across the province and deliver nearly 3,000 new hospital beds to enhance access to quality care and build a more connected, people-first health-care system.
- The Ontario government is investing over $281 million in 2026-27 to support critical infrastructure upgrades and repairs at 126 hospitals and 67 community health-care facilities across the province, a 9.4 per cent increase from the previous year.
- More than 4,200 nurses have participated in ED Virtual Education, with over 15,000 Specialty Training Fund Grants utilized.
- There has been a 300 per cent increase in ED Peer-to-Peer Program calls since inception of the program.
Quotes:
"Ontario's hospital emergency department teams have demonstrated resilience and improved performance. Today’s announcement of the Emergency Department Action Team will further bolster Ontario’s response to health system pressures and increasingly high acuity. Ontario Health will continue to work alongside system partners to spread leading practices, support performance improvement and advance solutions to help patients access emergency care more quickly."
- Matthew Anderson, President and CEO, Ontario Health
Additional Resources:
Media Contacts:
Lily Barnes
Minister Jones’ Office
lily.barnes@ontario.ca
Media Relations
Communications Branch
media.moh@ontario.ca
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