Surrey Memorial Hospital has been ranked last out of 83 major hospitals across Canada, according to a new report by SecondStreet.org, which analyzed over 1,500 Google reviews from patients and their families.
The report, which evaluated Google ratings for major hospitals nationwide in 2024, placed Surrey Memorial in 83rd position with a score of 2.03 out of 5, way below the national average of 2.91. As of October 31, the hospital had 1,559 reviews and an overall 2.2-star rating, marking it as the lowest-rated facility in the country.
In contrast, Mount Saint Joseph Hospital in Vancouver earned the top spot with a 4.34 rating, followed by St. Paul’s Hospital at number five with 3.7. Other Vancouver-area hospitals also performed well in the rankings, with Vancouver General Hospital and Lions Gate Hospital securing spots in the top 10, with ratings of 3.5 and 3.3, respectively.
Critics argue that the results reflect ongoing disparities in health care access and resources between Surrey and other parts of the province.
“David Eby and his government put hospital patients first,” provided that they live in Vancouver or the North Shore,” said Anna Kindy, MLA for North Island and Conservative Official Opposition Health Critic. “Surrey patients go to the very back of the line, 83rd position, to be exact.”
The report emphasized that Google ratings should not be considered scientific measures of hospital performance. It noted that users cannot assign a zero rating, and online reviews can sometimes be biased or manipulated. However, the study’s purpose, SecondStreet.org explained, is to provide transparency and help hospitals identify areas for improvement.
“One bad review is understandable-even dozens-but hundreds of reviews describing this level of severity and dysfunction point to a systemic breakdown at Surrey Memorial Hospital,” added Dr. Kindy. “This is about equity of care and fair distribution of resources, which is not happening here.”
The 83 hospitals included in the study all had at least 30 reviews in 2024. While the report acknowledges limitations in interpreting Google data, Surrey Memorial’s poor ranking adds to the growing concern surrounding the city’s overburdened health-care system, which continues to struggle amid rapid population growth.
