Hudson, Que. Clinic Closure Leaves Nearly 12,000 Patients Scrambling for Care
HUDSON, QUE. – The closure of the GMF Hudson family medicine clinic west of Montreal is causing widespread concern for nearly 12,000 patients, many of whom fear limited access too healthcare. The clinic’s impending shutdown is directly linked to a new Quebec law tying doctor’s salaries to performance indicators, including patient volume and vulnerability.
The law, enacted on October 25th, has prompted several clinics across the province to announce potential closures. GMF Hudson announced it will be closing after three of its seven physicians stated they will no longer practice in Quebec due to the legislation.
“It would be a disaster. It would be tragic,” said James Parry, a patient at the clinic, expressing the anxieties of many in the community.”It’s so insane, asinine on the part of the government, to just wipe out this vital hub of the community.”
The clinic serves a significant English-speaking population in the Vaudreuil-Soulanges region, functioning as the only bilingual Groupe de médecine familiale (GMF) in the area, according to clinic representative, McCarty.
Concerns are especially acute for the region’s elderly and those with limited mobility. “They don’t have cars or they don’t have any means to get there, so what they would have to do is relocate from this village to wherever they could be close to medical support,” explained Royle, highlighting the potential for displacement.
During question period at the National Assembly on Friday, Marie-Claude Nichols, MNA for Vaudreuil, raised the issue of clinic closures linked to Bill 2. Health Minister Christian Dubé responded by emphasizing the importance of doctors having “all the most up-to-date facts as possible before making such vital decisions.”
GMF Hudson has stated that each patient will be contacted directly by their family doctor to discuss continued care options and whether their physician will remain in the area. The closure represents a major loss for the community, which relies on the clinic’s integrated network of doctors, nurse practitioners, and pharmacists.
