Read in Financial Post   New research by SecondStreet.org found the average score of major hospitals in Canada for 2025 was just 2.88 stars (out of five). Yes, that’s right, many Canadians would take a pass on a restaurant with such a low score, but we often have no other choice when it comes to our hospitals.  Thankfully, it doesn’t have to be this way. There are clear options to improve the health care services available for Canadians. More on that in a moment, but first, the findings: Just like last year, analysis of nearly 9,000 comments left by patients reveals a nation that is frustrated by long wait times. This was by far the most common type of comment left – patients often noting they waited “eight hours,” “ten hours” and longer. One patient even said, “don’t bother coming to ER if you are conscious though…gave up after a 14 hour wait. Easier and faster to book a plane to South America/Europe and get treated there.”  Seven Oaks General Hospital in Winnipeg was the lowest ranked hospital out of the 84 hospitals studied, earning less than two stars. One patient noted, “What a terrible place to go if you’re experiencing a medical emergency. I was so happy to be called after two hours, only to be put in a room for eight hours with no doctor checking on me … it needs to be shut down.” Another said, “they are just chit chatting and we have been waiting inside for more than 10 hours with horrible pain.” To be sure, not all the comments about this hospital, and others across the country, were negative. For instance, one user had this to say about Seven Oaks, “front information desk very helpful. Ultrasound department very kind and efficient.” Users sometimes remarked about other hospitals delivering “excellent” care. The problem in Canada is not that patients never have positive experiences with the health system, the problem is that far too often the experience is the opposite. British Columbia hospitals had the highest average score among Canadian provinces, earning slightly over three stars.…​Read More