2023-09-19 22:36:52
(Quebec) Nearly 1,000 Quebecers suffering from cancer have been waiting for their oncological surgery for more than 56 days, lamented Tuesday the Liberal health spokesperson, André Fortin.
The government’s target for access to oncological surgery is that 90% of medically ready patients receive surgery in less than 28 days and 100% in less than 56 days.
When the first surgery catch-up plan was submitted in June 2021, 353 cancer patients had been waiting for their surgery for more than 56 days. Two years later, this figure rose to 892.
“It’s been three times that the minister has presented a surgical catch-up plan and each time, it gets worse,” denounced Mr. Fortin during question period in the National Assembly. It’s sickening to do this to patients. »
The Liberal elected official from Pontiac accused the Minister of Health, Christian Dubé, of being “complacent” and lacking “eagerness”.
He pointed out that currently, there are 87 patients with prostate cancer, 66 with breast cancer and 55 with lung cancer who are not undergoing surgery within the required time.
“Can you demonstrate a modicum of urgency, please? » he told the minister.
Mr. Dubé responded by saying he had “a lot of empathy for the people who are on the waiting lists.”
“The doctors tell us: ‘I am not able to operate, because I have patients who take up a bed, who take up a place in the hospital, when they should be released.’ […] This is our challenge,” he declared.
“We are taking all necessary means with specialized medical clinics, we are doing everything possible at the moment, (but) we have limited resources,” he added.
When addressing another issue, that of service disruptions for pregnant women in Gaspésie, Minister Dubé mentioned nurses’ vacations.
He said the government made the choice this summer to allow nurses to take a break. In August, 80,000 of them were absent from the network for various reasons including vacations, he said.
According to the Liberals, forcing pregnant women to travel hundreds of kilometers to access care is unacceptable. “Not only are we putting their safety at risk, but also that of their babies,” lamented MP Enrico Ciccone.
“Should we stop our nurses from taking vacations? » then asked Mr. Dubé.
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