The brutal attack recently suffered by Patsy Van Damme, a nurse at the CHUL, is symptomatic of a healthcare system in a sorry state.

What happened to Patsy is a brutal reminder of the reality that healthcare professionals have long been denouncing: when teams are understaffed, when organization of work doesn’t take risks into account, and when help doesn’t arrive fast enough, consequences can be dire. This was true for Patsy, but it’s also true for all healthcare professionals and patients in the network. Due to a lack of fully staffed teams, there are multiple major physical and psychological repercussions for everyone.

That is exactly why this election campaign must refocus the debate on what is essential.

The top priority is a strong and accessible front line We need to fully use all healthcare professionals’ skills, continue the SNPs’ development, and strengthen CLSCs so that they once again become a genuine local point of access for the public.

The second priority is to protect the public health network. When human and financial resources are diverted to the private sector, it weakens the entire public system. Receiving care should never depend on a person’s ability to pay. It is time for Quebec to choose a strong public network that is accessible and equitable for everyone.

The third priority is to put an end to the work overload with safe ratios. Enough fully staffed teams, safe ratios, and effective prevention measures are key to protecting both healthcare professionals and patients.

The fourth priority is more humane governance that is closer to the field. The decisions that affect care and working conditions need to be made while taking into account the realities in the institutions and regions. With Santé Québec, we want truly decentralized management that listens to teams in the field, respects the role of union representatives, and puts the public’s needs before administrative imperatives.

Let’s wake up before it’s too late. Because behind the statistics, reforms and nice promises are people. There’s Patsy. Her colleagues. The healthcare professionals who are keeping the network afloat and, of course, the patients who deserve better!

The election campaign is when parties ask us to trust them. We are asking them for something else: to clearly tell us what you’re going to do.

That is why, as is its habit, on September 14th at 1:30 pm, the Federation will hold its own electoral debate all about health care. The debate will be broadcast on the FIQ’s Facebook page. It will be a golden opportunity to find out where the five main parties stand on the topic. We hope that many of you will be there!

Julie Bouchard, President

Fédération interprofessionnelle de la santé du Québec–FIQ