Ontario's Wait Time Woes: 83% See Delays Deepening, Women Most Affected

Toronto, Canada, February 17, 2024 — The latest survey conducted by Ipsos on behalf of the Ontario Medical Association (OMA) reveals a stark perception of the health care crisis in Ontario. A majority (68%) believe the situation has deteriorated over the past year, with 48% indicating it is somewhat worse and 19% perceiving it as much worse. There are notable gender disparities, with nearly eight in ten women (77%) expressing dissatisfaction with the current state of the health care system, compared to 58% of men.

Mounting Wait Times: Ontarians Voice Growing Concerns

A substantial majority (83%) of Ontarians recognize that wait times for diagnostic imaging, specialist appointments, and surgeries have deteriorated, with 31% strongly agreeing and 52% somewhat agreeing to this sentiment, highlighting a significant concern among the population about the efficiency and responsiveness of Ontario's healthcare system. This perception is even more pronounced among women, with 87% acknowledging worsening wait times compared to 79% of men.

Ontarians Call for Government Accountability in Healthcare

Beyond the issue of wait times, the survey reveals a pervasive dissatisfaction with the Ontario government's ability to fulfill healthcare promises. Nearly six in ten Ontarians (59%) claim that the Ontario government has not delivered on its promise to end hallway medicine, while 36% feel the commitment has been partially met, and 5% believe the promise has been fully honored. Similarly, 58% do not agree that the Ontario government is taking the necessary steps to rectify the healthcare system's problems, with 31% somewhat disagreeing and 28% strongly disagreeing. Women again express greater dissatisfaction, with 67% disagreeing compared to 48% of men. As the Ontario election approaches its midpoint, these insights emphasize the urgent need for candidates to address the pressing healthcare challenges faced by Ontarians.
 

About the Study

These are the findings of an Ipsos survey conducted on behalf of the Ontario Medical Association. Fieldwork was conducted between February 6-7, 2025. A total of n=501 Ontarians aged 18+ participated in the survey which was fielded via the Ipsos’ panel. Quotas and weighting were used to ensure the sample's composition reflects that of the Ontario population according to census parameters. The precision of Ipsos online surveys is measured using a credibility interval. In this case, the survey is accurate to within +/- 5.4 per cent 19 times out of 20, of what the results would have been had all Ontario adults 18+ been surveyed.
The credibility interval will be wider among subsets of the population. All sample surveys and polls may be subject to other sources of error, including, but not limited to coverage error, and measurement error.

For more information on this Factum, please contact:
Sean Simpson
Senior Vice President, Ipsos Public Affairs
[email protected]

About Ipsos

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