A trio of respiratory viruses is hovering over Quebec, sending many patients to the emergency room.
According to microbiologist and infectious disease specialist at the CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Jean Longtin, the respiratory syncytial virus, RSV, influenza and COVID-19 are currently circulating.
There is actually an increase in emergency department traffic and hospitalizations due to the prevalence of the three respiratory infections being monitored.
The internal intensive care doctor at the Pierre-Le Gardeur Hospital, Dr. Amélie Boisclair, makes a similar observation.
It’s no secret that emergency rooms have been overcrowded for quite some time. But here we are really in the middle of respiratory virus season and we’re seeing people come home one by one. Sometimes they become so unwell that they require intensive care.
She recommends that the population adhere to basic hygiene rules.
We stay at home if we have symptoms. We put on a mask, ideally an N-95 or a surgical mask, when we have to go out. We ventilate. We avoid vulnerable people when we think we are sick. It’s time because the hospitals are overcrowded.
High utilization
In several regions of Quebec, emergency room occupancy far exceeds maximum capacity.
In Lanaudière, occupancy on Saturday evening was 167%, according to Index Santé (new window). In the Laurentians, occupancy was 134%. This region is closely followed by Montérégie, where the number of emergencies averaged 129%.
Patient Protection Council President Paul Brunet is calling on the Quebec government to intervene to resolve the situation.
I am convinced that we will create free emergency care for older people who do not need urgent treatment. “If we clear the emergency department of outpatients who don’t really need urgent care, I think we’ve solved at least half of the problem,” he said.
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The President of the Council for the Protection of the Sick, Paul Brunet. (archive photo)
Photo: Radio-Canada
Health Minister Christian Dubé’s office responded in a written statement, emphasizing that patients who do not require immediate care must be able to turn to other options to relieve our emergencies. This is exactly what our government is doing with the Pediatric Lead and First Line Access Desk.
The Cabinet is particularly targeting strikes in the public sector, highlighting that the situation worsens during emergencies.
On strike days, these services are only used to a limited extent, which increases the pressure.
“The situation is far from ideal, we are aware of it, we are monitoring it very closely and will take stock in the coming days,” the minister’s office added.
According to Gabrielle Proulx’s report