On Friday, hospitals in Hull, Gatineau and Papineau recorded occupancy rates of 192%, 161% and 150% respectively, according to the Department for Health and Social Services.
The director of care at the Outaouais Center for Integrated Health and Social Services (CISSS), Marie-Ève Cloutier, points out that various factors explain the overburdening of hospitals.
First, the labor shortage is responsible for the closure of many beds in the area. at ZISS In Outaouais, 12% of short-term hospital beds are unavailable due to staff shortages.
However, another issue is important: the high rate of elderly people waiting for housing.
We still have 21% of the beds occupied by seniors awaiting long-term care in a facility.
argues Ms. Cloutier.
The lack of facilities for this purpose would be questionable. In the Outaouais, 1,300 places are allotted to this clientele, although it would take up to 2,100, argues the director of care.
” The population has changed, it has aged. It requires adjustments. »
Not only is the population increasing, the population is also aging
adds the President of the Outaouais Care Professionals Union, Karine d’Auteuil. Suitcases are getting heavier and medicine is becoming ever more complex.
The latter explains that for this reason the care given today is no longer the same as it was 20 years ago and that the pathologies treated are different. It’s a reality that needs to be taken into account, she stresses.
upcoming negotiations
The Fédération interprofessionnelle de la santé du Québec (FIQ) has issued nearly 70 recommendations on pay, work-life balance and workload in anticipation of negotiations scheduled for March 2023.
Ms D’Auteuil stresses that the nurses’ participation was very interesting. In fact, more than 43,000 caregivers took part in the consultation process, conducted earlier this year.
” We hope that members will continue to mobilize. »
That FIQ will hold general assemblies across the province by October 20 to approve this draft.
There is nothing to worry about
argues Marie-Ève Cloutier. Negotiations are not always negative.
With information from Nelly Alberola
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