A bad hospital experience in Ontario isn't a rare complaint to have — it's the single largest category the Patient Ombudsman sees. Here's the actual order to escalate one.
What's Actually Happening
Ontario's Patient Ombudsman received 4,886 new complaints between April 2024 and March 2025, a 10% increase over the year before, continuing a steady climb from 4,429 the year prior. Almost 60% of the 2024–25 complaints were related to hospital care specifically, and complaints about obstetrical and gynecological care rose 29% in a single year. A recurring theme in the report: patients who felt unheard, including some who left the emergency room prematurely without a proper follow-up.
The Right Order to Escalate
1Raise it with the hospital directly — Patient Relations or a similar internal office, in writing, is the required first step.
2Escalate to the Patient Ombudsman if the hospital's own process doesn't resolve it — this office reviews hospitals, long-term care homes, home care, and community surgical/diagnostic centres.
3College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario if the complaint is about a specific doctor's conduct rather than the institution.
Why This Matters If You're Filing Now
The rising volume means longer waits for a response are likely, not less — writing a clear, factual, well-documented complaint the first time (dates, names, what you asked for) matters more than ever for getting a faster resolution.
Get a clear, factual hospital complaint drafted in minutes, in one of 7 languages.
Start With Asya Now →Sources & Verification
Figures in this article are drawn from Ontario's Patient Ombudsman annual report and coverage of it, including:
- CP24 — Patient Complaints on the Rise in Ontario
- The Globe and Mail — Patient Complaints Continue to Rise
Learn more about how ComplaintCA verifies information on our About page.