Doctor shortage in Quebec CHSLDs: seniors should not have to pay the price for Liberal reforms
FIQ members gathered today outside of the Christ-Roi CHSLD to protest the lack of doctors in several long-term care centres in the region “Seniors should not have to pay the price for Liberal reforms. Not knowing if there will be doctors on site creates many problems. If a patient is suffering from a problem that only a doctor can treat, then the patient is taken in an ambulance to an emergency room for treatment. These transfers are stressful for seniors and put their health at a higher risk by exposing them to sick people in the emergency room hallways,” explained Nancy Bédard, FIQ President.
“This morning we found out that the Health Minister has made a deal with the Fédération des médecins omnipraticiens to get them to practice in CHSLDs. It’s good news but it gives us no guarantee in the short-term that doctors will respond positively. We don’t know the details and nobody at the CIUSSS de la Capitale-Nationale was able to give us more information. We need to stay vigilant,” said Patricia Lajoie, president of the FIQ – Syndicat des professionnelles en soins de la Capitale-Nationale.
The doctor shortage affects 734 seniors at the CIUSSS de la Capitale-Nationale, 224 patients in the Christ-Roi, Sacré-Coeur and Louis-Hébert CHSLDs and 510 seniors in the Villa-Bonenfant, Yvonne-Sylvain, Fargy and Saint-Augustin CHSLDs. These patients don’t have a designated doctor or doctor on call.
“This has been going on for months and needs to be resolved as quickly as possible. It’s urgent. It affects patients and has a negative impact on the whole care team. It adds to an already excessive workload for nurses, licensed practical nurses and respiratory therapists. The Health Minister and the CIUSSS de la Capitale-Nationale must ensure an increase in doctors in CHSLDs in the region,” said Nancy Bédard.