The head of the obstetrics and gynecology department Sophie Désindes confirms that, that day, her team had to compensate for a significant shortage of personnel. She also indicates that elective Caesarean sections have been postponed for a few hours or even days, and that the unit has run out of beds.
However, it does not confirm the thesis of a breakdown in services put forward by nurses. Like the CIUSSS de l’Estrie-CHUS, it talks more about modulation of services
, since all the patients were ultimately taken care of, even if it was not in the time initially planned.
It is really a daily job to modulate certain activities. To do it at this level, it was an element that we had not often experienced […] We agree that we also lacked beds, so we had very, very busy days
, explains the doctor.
She says find hard
to see the obstacles experienced by his colleagues in the maternity ward. Remember that, when they spoke with Radio-Canada this week, nurses denounced the use of recurring
of compulsory overtime
by the managers of the CIUSSS de l’Estrie-CHUS.
I have a message for my nursing colleagues. Hold fast. There, the bleeding must be stopped.
I use medical terms, but there is a vicious circle. If there are fewer and fewer nurses, that puts pressure. Everyone has to work together to find solutions. […] This extra time has to stop there as quickly as possible. Solutions must come, innovative solutions; we have to work with the people on the ground as well to find these solutions
, she adds.
The ministry must intervene, believes Christine Labrie
The member for Sherbrooke for Québec solidaire, Christine Labrie, makes a direct link between compulsory overtime and the shortage of nurses in hospitals.
This is a problem that has been going on for years, that is not specific to the CIUSSS de l’Estrie, that occurs everywhere in Quebec and that sustains the staff shortage.
She also believes the situation could harm patients.
It is more and more frequent that they are [les infirmières] put them to work in circumstances where they are impaired, where they do not even feel fit to drive, and are asked to care for patients, to welcome newborns, to take care of neonatology, of children who are premature, who need intensive care. These are situations that are at risk
, supports the member.
She asks the Ministry of Health to intervene in the case.
The ministry’s responsibility is to implement a plan so that mandatory overtime is no longer required. Compulsory overtime should be used in highly exceptional situations, when there is a disaster. We shouldn’t have this every day in our hospitals
, she believes.
The union that represents nurses agrees.
CAQ, they got elected and said they were going to change things. Well, do it, it’s time, there “,” text “:” They really have to [les élus] take action and find ways. At our CIUSSS, they tell us that their hands are tied.[…] The CAQ, they were elected and said they were going to change things. Well, do it, it’s time, there “}}”>They really have to [les élus] take action and find ways. At our CIUSSS, they tell us that their hands are tied.[…] The CAQ, they got elected and said they were going to change things. Alright, do it, now is the time
, insists David Lambert, the secretary-treasurer of the Union of healthcare professionals of the Eastern Townships.
As of Wednesday evening, the Department of Health and Social Services had still not responded to Radio-Canada’s request for information.
With information from Alexis Tremblay
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