MONTREAL — While McGill University Health Center (MUHC) announced its decision last April to reopen the 24-hour emergency department at Lachine Hospital, we have learned that the population will have to wait until the end of September before they can benefit .

In a note sent to staff this week, the MUHC announces that the Lachine emergency room will remain closed at night through September. According to management confirmation, the measure that began on February 14 will last until September 25.

No one was available at the MUHC on Wednesday to answer questions from the Canadian Press. In an emailed response, the MUHC confirms that the emergency stays open between 8am and 10pm only.

However, the MUHC continues to cause confusion on its own web platforms. The notice “Emergency 24/7” is always prominently displayed on an information page about Lachine Hospital, along with a box indicating the opposite.

The Association of General Practitioners of Montreal (AMOM) called this decision to extend the nighttime closure “surprising” and issued a press release on Wednesday afternoon denouncing this “contradictory message” to the population.

“It is worrying for the local population. Many of our members who work there also regret the situation and have no idea what to expect,” says a quote that AMOM President Dr. Attributed to Michel Vachon.

In an interview with The Canadian Press, Dr. Vachon goes even further and says: “It makes no sense”! He adds that this management duplicity creates “an unbearable climate” for local doctors. Some doctors may also be tempted to drop out if their hours are reduced when other hospitals are in high demand.

“We really wonder if that’s not the basic idea of ​​the MUHC, which causes this uncertainty on site,” suspects the family doctor.

“Everyone is currently behind the wheel, everyone manages to keep the emergency room open and to take care of the population. That is the power of war, the local care of patients on site,” emphasizes Dr. Vachon.

On April 26, MUHC made its long-awaited decision on the future of Lachine Hospital. Since mid-February, the emergency room between 8 a.m. and 10 p.m. has only admitted patients who can present themselves. Ambulances called to the area are still being diverted to other hospitals.

In its decision, MUHC confirmed the community hospital status of the Lachine facility and promised a full 24-hour reopening of its emergency department “in the next few months.”

In a press release, AMOM also regrets the composition of the recovery task force promised by management. It is criticized that little space is given to “members who are committed to maintaining activities in an emergency”.

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