2023-12-06 07:13:39
(Quebec) The Legault government is pushing back its 2018 electoral commitment to being treated in emergencies within 90 minutes to a third term.
In its most recent strategic plan, the Ministry of Health and Social Services (MSSS) postpones its target to 2026-2027, which should normally have been reached this year.
“The most apparent symptom of a health system to which access is difficult is manifested by significant traffic in emergency services,” writes the Deputy Minister of Health, Daniel Paré, in the document submitted to the National Assembly.
“The results of the MSSS 2019-2023 Strategic Plan illustrate the persistence of this problem since the objectives have not been achieved,” continues Mr. Paré, specifically citing the target for the average emergency treatment time for outpatient clients. .
This observation comes as emergency rooms in Greater Montreal face a new traffic crisis and the death of two patients is under investigation at Anna-Laberge hospital. This placed the Legault government on the defensive on Tuesday.
The new MSSS target is much less ambitious: we hope to achieve an average medical treatment time of 165 minutes over the next year.
Objectives for average medical treatment time in emergency departments
- 2023-2024 : 165 minutes
- 2024-2025 : 125 minutes
- 2025-2026 : 105 minutes
- 2026-2027 : 90 minutes
Source : Strategic plan 2023-2027 of the MSSS
In 2018, the Coalition Avenir Québec made a firm commitment to reduce the average wait in emergency rooms to 90 minutes. This target was to be achieved in 2022-2023, according to its 2019-2023 strategic plan, which had also been revised in 2021 to take into account the pandemic.
Another target pushed back
Quebec also failed to achieve its objective of reducing the average length of stay on a stretcher to 14 hours, which was instead 18.1 in 2022-2023. This target has also been pushed back to four years.
Objectives for average length of stay on stretcher
- 2023-2024: 5 p.m.
- 2024-2025: 16 hours
- 2025-2026: 15 hours
- 2026-2027: 14 hours
Source : Strategic plan 2023-2027 of the MSSS
“Like everywhere in the world, we are facing several challenges, notably the labor shortage, the aging of the population and a health network still weakened by the pandemic. The Ministry of Health had to review its targets so that they were realistic in the context,” argued Christian Dubé’s office on Tuesday evening.
We do not want to add pressure on the professionals in the field, but rather take it away from them. We are focusing on measures that will make it easier to avoid visits to the emergency room when they can be avoided.
Extract from a statement from the office of Minister Christian Dubé
In the strategic plan, Daniel Paré highlights “the difficulty of access to front-line professionals”, which “leads to overuse of emergency services for minor health problems”. He recalls the “massive efforts” made to improve access, such as the implementation of the First Line Access Counter (GAP), and specifies that reducing waiting times in emergencies “remains a priority”.
The document tabled last week comes “at the end of a health crisis which has greatly affected the activities of the health and social services system,” writes Mr. Paré. It indicates that the “legacy of the pandemic” was taken into account in establishing certain priorities and new targets.
Dubé defends himself
The Press reported Tuesday that doctors deplore a deterioration in the emergencies of Greater Montreal, a year following the creation of a crisis unit by the Legault government. On Tuesday, the Minister of Health admitted that certain establishments were slow to apply the solutions identified by the crisis unit to relieve emergency room congestion.
“We are at the time of year when there are viruses, so that’s what makes the situation similar,” defended Mr. Dubé, who also underlined that the strike days disrupted activities. in hospitals, in particular the 811 line call services. “Now, I want to differentiate between the excellent work that the crisis unit has done and the second stage [de l’application] “, he qualified.
PHOTO EDOUARD PLANTE-FRÉCHETTE, LA PRESS
Christian Dubé, Minister of Health
This is an issue that we have in certain hospitals and it is not for lack of collaboration, but people must now take these recommendations [et les appliquer].
Christian Dubé, Minister of Health
In the tense context of recent weeks, the MSSS invites the population to avoid emergencies as much as possible. “The pressure is particularly strong on the services offered,” writes the MSSS in a press release. “It is possible that waiting times to access services will be higher than normal in the coming days,” we add.
The population is asked to use the Info 811 line or to consult the digital GAP on the government website. We also invite those who can to consult their family doctor or a pharmacist.
Reactions from opposition parties
PHOTO EDOUARD PLANTE-FRÉCHETTE, LA PRESSE ARCHIVES
Marc Tanguay, interim leader of the Quebec Liberal Party
We must return to the care provided by family doctors and the crisis unit because it was feedback that comes from the field, it is very valuable.
Marc Tanguay, interim leader of the Quebec Liberal Party
PHOTO EDOUARD PLANTE-FRÉCHETTE, LA PRESS
Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois, parliamentary leader of Québec solidaire
While we are making structural reforms, while we are shuffling organizational charts and wanting to recruit top guns, on the ground, what is happening is deeply worrying.
Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois, parliamentary leader of Québec solidaire
PHOTO EDOUARD PLANTE-FRÉCHETTE, LA PRESS
Paul St-Pierre Plamondon, leader of the Parti Québécois
How we find ourselves in such a tragic situation, and then why things are not getting better, even getting worse. These are perfectly legitimate questions. The government has a responsibility to respond.
Paul St-Pierre Plamondon, leader of the Parti Québécois
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