The three opposition parties jointly denounced on Wednesday the “excessive amount” paid by patients at the CIUSSS de l’Estrie-Centre hospitalier universitaire de Sherbrooke (CHUS) who have been discharged from the hospital and refuse a place in a transitional housing environment.
The $429-a-day bill imposed on users who have been discharged from hospital but have refused a room in transitional accommodation is “scandalous,” argued PQ MP Joël Arseneau. “In solving the problems of the health system, can we really look at the people first and especially at the most vulnerable? he asked himself at a press conference in the National Assembly.
On Wednesday, Le Devoir reported that the CIUSSS de l’Estrie-CHUS has raised more than $4 million in three years by charging its patients with such fees. Healthcare facilities are required to collect these amounts under a regulation of the Health Services and Social Services Act. The amount will be “determined by the provincial government,” said the CIUSSS.
However, as reported on our pages, Victoria Della Porta refused to pay this bill for her 86-year-old disabled mother. The latter was initially offered a place in a CHSLD in Granby, a place which was not suitable as it is 50km from the home of her daughter, her carer. The CIUSSS then offered the patient a room in a CHSLD in Sutton, closer to where the family lived.
A “Lack of Humanity”
Similar situations are occurring in other regions, added André Fortin, Liberal MP for Pontiac, in Outaouais. “We tell people, ‘We’re offering you a place in a CHSLD 50km, 60km, 70km from your home, where your loved ones won’t be able to visit you daily, where you won’t be in your community. […] And a few days later we can offer a place that is 5 km, 10 km, 15 km from the patient’s place of residence. »
According to Mr. Fortin, behind this decision-making is a “lack of humanity”. Some people are forced to accept a room in a CHSLD far from their loved ones because they cannot afford to pay $429 a day.
Deputy Quebec Solidaire Vincent Marissal, for his part, was concerned about the well-being of patients being treated “very, very shattered” in a healthcare system. “These people are getting hurt right now,” he claimed.
In a statement to Le Devoir, the Office of Minister for Health and Elderly Sonia Bélanger said she understood the fees charged to patients raised questions. “The health and social services network is in high demand and beds are needed to care for patients,” wrote Ms. Bélanger’s spokeswoman, Sarah Bigras.
The latter stresses that efforts are being made to improve the accommodation offer in order to “provide local services for families and meet their needs”.
With Marie-Eve Cousineau