In the midst of a crisis, the Maisonneuve-Rosemont hospital calls for volunteers to relieve staff.
Posted 5:44pm Updated 6:50pm
“We are in an hourly management situation that remains difficult given the human resources currently available,” said Jean-François Fortin Verreault, President and CEO of the CIUSSS de l’Est-de-l’Ile-de-Montreal
In a press release published on Thursday, he asked for the help of volunteer health workers to lend a hand to exhausted staff at Maisonneuve-Rosemont hospital. Several nurses in the network have already filled some shifts.
“We would like to say thank you for this great solidarity and confirm that we will take any help that is offered to us by the experienced caregivers,” the statement said.
Earlier this week, around 100 emergency nurses at the Maisonneuve-Rosemont hospital were threatened with dismissal, particularly for abusing forced overtime.
The public’s cooperation is requested
In the emergency room of the Maisonneuve-Rosemont hospital, which serves the east of the city, the situation remains “precarious”. Up to 60 patients per day continue to present with non-priority medical problems.
The situation is similar to the emergency room at Santa Cabrini Hospital, where nearly 25 patients go every day when they could be treated elsewhere. In addition, nearly 50% of these patients have a family doctor, the statement said.
This means that the cooperation of the population is once again required to unlock the emergencies. Patients who have a family doctor should “take this path as a matter of priority”. “All clinics in the area have been mobilized in this direction, they are ready to quickly receive users who will contact them,” said Dr. Ariane Murray, director of the regional general medicine department in Montreal.
Patients who nonetheless present to the emergency room without the situation requiring it will be diverted to alternative routes, it is reminded.
Recall that measures were announced on Tuesday hoping to alleviate the crisis at the Maisonneuve-Rosemont hospital, including the rerouting of ambulances. An external arbitrator was also appointed to try to resolve the impasse between employees and management.