Walker also notes that the hospital's emergency room was built to accommodate 45,000 visits a year, but they're currently seeing over 63,000.

The hospital has put in a request for funds to the province to update their facilities.

Last year, Guelph General ran at a $1.5 million deficit, the first time in years, Walker says.

While a growing population is part of the equation, the other part has to do with the amount of people actually needing treatment.

Walker says they've seen an increase in complicated cases, meaning more people who come to the hospital actually need treatment.

In the Mercury Tribune's earlier story, OCHU president Michael Hurley says this is because of Ontario's rapidly aging population, which places a greater strain on hospitals.

Hurley says the over-75 population is expected to double in the next five years, the over-85 population will triple and the over-90 population will quadruple, something the ministry isn't accounting for.

“You’re going to see greater and greater numbers of people receiving care in inappropriate surroundings like hallways, or solariums or broom closets,” he says.

In a prior email response from the Ministry of Health, spokesperson Travis Kann says OCHU's numbers are "unrealistic" and their conclusion is "misleading."

Walker says the hospital will be working with community partners to try and find new ways of getting patients out of the hospital quicker.

"We don't think it's OK that they're are in the hall," she says.

"I have to tell you, we have stellar physicians and staff here that continue to look at, first of all, providing the best care possible. At the same time, they're all working together to find ideas of how can we continue to be more efficient. So that's the good news."