The population must avoid going to the Chateauguay hospital, grappling with COVID-19 outbreaks and undermined by a redesigned emergency to be able to welcome patients potentially affected by the virus.
In a brief statement, the CISSS de la Montérégie-Ouest asked, Sunday afternoon, “to avoid, if possible, the emergency at the Anna-Laberge Hospital in Châteauguay due to high traffic.”
Considered one of the busiest hospitals in Quebec for years with that of Suroît in Salaberry-de-Valleyfield, the Anna-Laberge Hospital posted an occupancy rate of 131% in the emergency room on Sunday, against 138% for that of Suroît.
Due to this unusual traffic, the CISSS has implemented several actions, including the diversion of ambulances to other hospitals, it was specified.
The organization attributed the weekend’s overflow to ongoing outbreaks in different units. “Admissions are currently stopped on the latter, which has an impact on fluidity”, explained the CISSS.
The reorganization of the hospital emergency room to implement “strict infection prevention and control measures” in order to accommodate patients potentially infected with the virus has also turned the organization of the hospital upside down. “The capacity of emergencies is considerably reduced and beyond this, there are risks for patient safety”, underlined the CISSS.
Recall that the government forced, in January, the Anna-Laberge and Suroît hospitals to reconfigure their emergencies, which had not initially been selected to accommodate patients suspected of carrying SARS-CoV-2.
The Châteauguay hospital has long been the victim of overcrowding. Recently, he found himself on the list of ten hospitals in Quebec in a critical situation in the face of the pandemic, in December, and he had to suspend visits in January. The hospital has also re-authorized visits by family caregivers last Friday only.
The CISSS recalled that the population should avoid going to the emergency room, except in the event of significant complications. Obtaining advice from a pharmacist or a family doctor, calling 811 or going to a walk-in clinic are options to be favored in case of milder ailments.
–
