Faced with labor shortages, the Federation of Quebec Nurses (FIQ) called for the CNESSTafter noticing psychological distress among its members. We really had warning signs, layoffs, departures, lots of people on payroll or CNESST. We have also received heartbreaking messages from our members who are working in very difficult conditions, saying they are unable to provide safe care.explains Stéphanie Boulet, interim president of the Union of Care Professionals of the Eastern Townships, which is linked to the FIQ.

Two offenses

That fall, CNESST followed the Cowansville ER. In her report she identifies two offenses in September 2022.

First, the establishment has not taken any measures to assess the risks associated with overwork. In addition, the CUSSS has not taken any mitigation measures for its workers either.

For union leader Stéphanie Boulet, the situation has reached a critical point. For the month of November, there would currently be 75 vacant nursing shifts at the Cowansville ER. The union therefore proposes reducing opening hours at night.

We’re really putting a working team on their knees to keep the services open, but we’re not bringing in any help or new staff that could give that team stability and then some air and that’s really urgent to bring. We don’t think we can spend the holidays without bringing concrete help with nurses at the apple orchard emergency leveladds Stephanie Boulet.

While acknowledging that the labor shortage is affecting all of Quebec’s healthcare network, the union says it has proposed several solutions over the past year.

A few months ago, members told us we would like to do 12 hours. It would help us for the weekends, among other things. Well, that’s a possibility! With the rest of us, doing twelve hours is already something that is negotiated on site. It’s not difficult to set up, but the cook who was there at the time didn’t know how to do itcontinues the President of the Union of Care Professionals of the Eastern Townships.

Urgency to act but no closure

The director of care at the CIUSSS de l’Estrie-CHUS, Patricia Bourgault, says that since last summer there are solutions, but she admits that there are still urgency to act.

There are now very concrete measures. For example, evening and night staff were increased. There is a resource that comes to the rescue even during the day. We are working on reorganizing care to ensure staff have everything they need to ensure the quality of careexplains the manager.

” This hospital has a special need for workers, I won’t hide that from you. »

As for the union’s request to shorten the opening hours of the Brome Missisquoi Perkins emergency room, there are no plans, the director assures. We are working on other strategies. The population is entitled to this emergency service and we are assured that it is available.

In anticipation of the holiday season, the Director ensures that additional staff will be present and that there will be internal consultations. Very early in the morning when we see that the ER is overwhelmed, we set up actions. You can ask nurses from other departments to come and help, but you can also ask other departments in the hospital to help greet patients.says Patricia Bourgault confidently.

With information from Thomas Deshaies