Two patients died within two days of each other last week in the emergency room of the Châteauguay hospital while waiting for treatment from a doctor in an environment of record traffic and endless waits.
“It’s serious,” responds a hospital employee on condition of anonymity, who describes the situation as “terrible.” Its scary. The responsibility for these patients falls on the shoulders of emergency personnel.”
Emergencies have been increasing in Quebec for several days, particularly due to an outbreak of respiratory viruses. At Anna Laberge Hospital, according to our sources, the worst-case scenario occurred when two patients died without seeing a doctor.
He had waited 12 hours
Last Wednesday, an elderly patient died in the evening after losing consciousness and suffering cardiac arrest. He had been waiting for stomach pain for 12 hours. According to our information, it was classified as priority 3 (P3).
Typically these cases need to be investigated within 30 minutes. But last week the P3s were seen within 24 hours, an employee confirms. The patient was seen in triage more than once and was stable.
“If he had been seen earlier, would we have saved him?” asks the employee, who has no answer.
The next day, another patient died after being placed on a stretcher while waiting to be seen by a doctor. We were told he was having breathing problems.
Unfortunately, for many employees, these two deaths are not that surprising, but they do cause additional stress.
“We’ve been screaming for help for years, something somewhere is blocking us,” said one of them.
The Montérégie-Ouest Integrated Health and Social Services Center (CISSS) responded by email saying it takes these situations “very seriously” and extends its condolences to the families. However, we refuse to provide details of the deaths.
“Although they [ces situations] “The fact is that they in no way reflect the quality of service we want to offer,” writes Jade St-Jean, communications manager.
A record volume
According to CISSS, an average of 50 ambulances came to the emergency room per day last week, 10 more than average. Last Monday there was even a record number of 65. Due to a defective scanner at the Salaberry-de-Valleyfield hospital, several patients were also transferred to Châteauguay.
The two deaths are currently the subject of internal and forensic investigations, confirms the CISSS. Meetings are planned in the near term with the Department of Health and Human Services to explore ways to reduce pressure. Health Minister Christian Dubé even visited the construction site on Sunday.
“The reported facts are extremely worrying,” writes the minister’s office.
Additional beds have also been opened in the day medical department and non-priority patients are being referred to medical clinics.
According to the Association of Emergency Medicine Specialists of Quebec, emergency room traffic is becoming unsustainable in several locations.
“At 200% for two or three days we can do it. But now it’s been taking two or three weeks. We are sure we will miss it [des patients]. The doctors are nervous. […] “At the moment, one of the worst jobs in Quebec is to carry out triage for nurses,” emphasizes the president of the association, Dr. Gilbert Boucher.
The Anna Laberge emergency yesterday in numbers
- 191% ridership rate
- 32 stretches planned
- 61 patients on stretchers
- 20 patients have been waiting for more than 48 hours (target is 0)
Source: Health Index
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