The government is not doing enough to reduce excesses in emergencies, says the Parti Québécois, which is calling for the establishment of a “real” crisis team.
• Also read: Quebec sets up a crisis team
Health Minister Christian Dubé announced on Wednesday the formation of a crisis team whose mandate will be to formulate “concrete recommendations” that will enable the government to deal with emergencies in the metropolitan area.
Right now, that cell consists of CEOs of the CISSSs and CIUSSSs of the greater Montreal area and “other experts” in the field, the government said.
According to the Parti Québécois, given the seriousness of the situation, this announcement appears “improvised, insufficient and incomplete”.
“Emergency closures, occupancy rates of more than 150% depending on the region, myocardial infarction treated too late, patients who, despite their precarious state of health, wait more than 15 hours without using any services: it is frankly worrying because of such a high level of traffic endangers the health and safety of patients throughout Quebec!” worried Rep. Joël Arseneau in a press release.
The PQ member also notes that the measures already envisaged in Minister Dubé’s health plan do not respond to the immediate emergency. “We are talking about medium and long-term measures,” he explained.
Consequently, the PQ judges that the exceptional nature of the situation requires the application of exceptional measures, taking the case of the health crisis as an example.
“What should be considered is the establishment of a national crisis team that would bring together not only Montreal managers, but more importantly independent experts, emergency physicians, unions and local staff, particularly to become concrete and immediately applicable solutions,” explained Mr. Arseneau.
And since a lack of staff is the crux of the problem, PQ believes that “strong measures” of bonding and attraction must be taken as quickly as possible, such as the introduction of a secure caregiver-patient relationship or the abolition of forced overtime.
To ensure an “effective frontline,” Paul St-Pierre Plamondon’s party believes Quebecers must be offered options outside of the ER, particularly with CHSLDs and home support.
“The current emergency overflow shows that Minister Dubé’s front-line access window (GAP) is not working, because if it were, we would not have made it,” concluded Joël Arseneau.