“`html
Rural Hospital Service Cuts Spark Patient Concerns
Table of Contents
Pohénégamok, Quebec – Residents are voicing frustration over curtailed service hours at the local hospital laboratory, resulting in limited access to diagnostic testing, especially during evenings, nights, and weekends. The changes stem from a temporary staffing adjustment, leaving the facility with reduced capacity.
Staffing changes and Service Disruptions
In May, a laboratory technician was reassigned from the Notre-Dame-du-Lac hospital to temporarily fill a vacancy elsewhere, leaving a single technician to operate the Pohénégamok laboratory.This led to the suspension of laboratory services outside of standard weekday hours. Despite the technician’s subsequent return, the reduced operating schedule remains in effect, prompting criticism from both patients and physicians. [[1]] Hospitals are a critical component of healthcare delivery, and disruptions to their services can have significant consequences for communities.
“Thay are available on weekends. It was the management that decided to close the weekends. Everyone complains about it.The patients complain about it, the doctors complain,” stated Louise Lemieux, a former president of the Committee of Citizens of Pohénégamok.
Did You Know? According to the World Health Organization, achieving Worldwide Health Coverage (UHC) requires optimizing hospital performance. [[1]]
Temporary Measures and Future Decisions
Local health authorities have indicated that the reduced hours are intended to be temporary, lasting until September. Though,no firm commitment has been made regarding a return to full service hours. A decision concerning the long-term availability of services at both the Pohénégamok and Trois-Pistoles hospitals is anticipated this fall.
Pro Tip: When facing healthcare access issues, contact your local health authority and patient advocacy groups to voice your concerns and learn about available resources.
