Quebecers have to pay $429 a day to stay in the hospital while waiting for a place in a CHSLD; However, in Estrie alone, more than 2,000 patients have had to pay for this service to avoid being uprooted and sent away by loved ones.
The opposition parties also sharply denounced this practice in the National Assembly on Wednesday.
Leah Fournier and her daughter Victoria are very close. The 86-year-old woman lived in a semi-autonomous dorm in Cowansville until a bad fall took her to the hospital. When she was released her condition prevented her from returning to her place of residence and she was offered a temporary placement at CHSLD in Granby.
“I had suggested four CHLSDs closer to where I live to be able to visit regularly, but Granby is too far away,” said Victoria Della Porta.
In light of this refusal, the hospital is asking Ms. Della Porta to sign a document stipulating that once you have your transitional place, each day spent in the hospital will be billed as an uninsured service at a cost of $429. “I said no because it’s not right, it’s not humane to send my mother away. And there you are threatened to pay this amount.”
Victoria Della Porta stood tall and didn’t sign, but thousands do. In the past three years, Estrie has had 2,152 patients pay fees of US$429 per day, for a total of approximately US$4 million.
“It’s too much,” commented Liberal André Fortin.
“Some commentators say it’s scandalous, I think the word isn’t too weak,” added Parti Québécois MP Joël Arsenault.
“Things are not going well on the network at the moment,” said Vincent Marissal, who showed solidarity.
The director of the specialized geriatric services of the CIUSSS de l’Estrie-CHUS, Danika Manseau, explained that the facility limits travel to 70 kilometers and that the law authorizes this practice to free hospital beds: “We are sensitive to what these families are going through, but we must ensure that all of our precious beds are occupied as efficiently as possible.
Rather, the Health Protection Council is of the opinion that the patient’s right to free choice of facility must prevail. He urges the affected families to sue the CIUSSS for reimbursement of small claims.