(Quebec and Montreal) About a hundred emergency nurses at the Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital (HMR) are demanding the resignation of the head of their department or they will leave their posts. The signatories denounce a “toxic atmosphere” and “inhumane working conditions”.
Updated yesterday at 3:24pm.
A petition signed by around 100 HRM emergency workers was filed with the management of the CIUSSS de l’Est-de-l’Île-de-Montréal on Friday to demand the resignation of the head of their unit, whose management would contribute heavily to the use of “Compulsory Overtime” (TSO).
“The number of TSOs is constantly growing and this encourages members of our team to leave, creating more than deplorable working conditions,” we write in the document, seen by La Presse. The signatories say they have seen a “metarose deterioration” in their working conditions since the manager in question took office in July. He has been criticized for having “not set up anything” to retain staff, his “lack of support, listening, empathy”.
According to the wording, “the entire emergency team” has lost confidence. “If nothing is done by January 18,” the signers will “submit” their resignation letter.
La Presse reported in December the cry from the hearts of nine HMR nurses and nursing assistants who openly denounced “schemes” used by managers to force them to stay in their jobs. A “sad record” was also imposed by TSO on Wednesday last week.
“It’s Cruel”
The President of the Union of Healthcare Professionals of the East Island of Montreal, Denis Cloutier, assures that the union supports the approach of its members and that it is a workers’ initiative. ” [Les travailleuses] are really tired and I understand them. We impose a work rhythm on them… the TSO is cruel,” said Mr. Cloutier. “Keeping them in TSO will cause drama [personnels] every time,” he added in an interview.
Mr. Cloutier was present on Friday when the petition was presented to the institution’s President and Director General, Jean-François Fortin-Verreault. The CUSSS did not want to comment on the actions of the emergency services.
At least 100 nurses out of a total of 113 have signed the document, the union reports. The version consulted by La Presse on Friday afternoon contained about 90 signatures. “It’s very majority,” said Mr. Cloutier.
In the office of Health Minister Christian Dubé, we claim to have “aware of the situation”. “The CIUSSS assures us that they take the petition as seriously as we do. Apart from that, of course we do not like what is going on and we are aware of the specific problems at the Hôpital Maisonneuve-Rosemont,” says spokesman Antoine De La Durantaye.
“Our workers and managers on site are doing a job that is not easy, especially in the current situation. We all need to work together for the benefit of our staff, but also to ensure the quality of patient care,” he adds.
Mr Dubé indicated on Wednesday that he had asked Mr Fortin-Verreault and the union to explain to him why they had not yet agreed to introduce local timetable management, a way the health secretary says shows promise to get around the TSO to reduce. “HMR, that’s exactly what I explained to you about those who have more difficulty implementing new measures,” Mr Dubé said. “Why there are thirty hospitals that have been successful [à implanter l’autogestion des horaires] and we couldn’t do that at HMR? ‘ he asked himself too.
The opposition wants answers
On Saturday, the opposition parties on Twitter quickly demanded answers from Minister Dubé. At Quebec Solidaire (QS), local MP and health critic Vincent Marissal doesn’t answer the phone. “We already lose enough people at CIUSSS! If the entire emergency response team slams the door, what are we going to do? Will we close the hospital? Mr. Dubé has to take care of something urgent, that’s part of his job. I ask him to meet with the rescue workers. And it will make me happy to go with him,” he says.
Mr Marissal describes a “lazy atmosphere” for these nurses and incidentally denounces that during this period the Maisonneuve-Rosemont hospital expansion project “stalled”. “This project isn’t moving forward, it’s going backwards, that’s the reality,” he says.
The health critic of the Parti Québécois (PQ), Joël Arseneau, also denounced the situation. “After his arrival at the Ministry of Health [Christian Dubé] only had for accountability. How about today? And the minister, what is his responsibility in the face of all these crises? ‘ he wondered, demanding explanations from the Legault government.
” [Christian Dubé] says he doesn’t want to put out any more fires. It’s valuable, but it’s a big part of his job. He cannot allow such situations. It’s about the quality of care and patient safety,” emphasized the Liberal MP for Pontiac, André Fortin.
The CIUSSS had assured on Wednesday that the project of self-government of timetables was in “gradual implementation” and the “introduction will be completed in the coming weeks”. The facility stated that “staff shortages remain an issue” and that “shift-by-shift managers are taking action to take all possible actions to improve the situation”.