Nurses anticipate a “very difficult” summer

2023-05-17 14:42:57

(Montreal) Already exhausted and outnumbered, Quebec nurses fear a “very difficult” summer. They challenge the Minister of Health, Christian Dubé, and ask him to commit to supporting them now.

Updated May 17

“Summer comes back year following year, but each time, it seems that we are never ready to face it, and that is why we are calling on Minister Dubé today,” declared Julie Bouchard. , president of the Fédération interprofessionnelle de la santé du Québec (FIQ), at a press briefing in Montreal on Wednesday morning.

M^me Bouchard called on the Minister to do “upstream work” to ensure the quality of services to the population as well as a healthy work environment for nurses.

“Summer holidays have been adopted and confirmed since April. But we know that the Ministry is not ready. We fear an increase […] considerable amount of “compulsory overtime”, and that certain leaves which have been requested months in advance are refused. Again at the last minute, we know. »

Concretely, nurses want the predictability of schedules to be improved and for employers to put an end to coercive measures.

Minister Christian Dubé’s office explains that the summer period brings additional challenges each year.

“We want to continue to provide services, while giving all of our staff a well-deserved vacation. We know it, and we will never compromise on it, ”we react.

The firm notes that it is the responsibility of the CEOs of each establishment to show predictability in the organization of the work of their teams in order to ensure the stability of the care offered this summer.

“The biggest difference with other years is that there are now alternatives to emergencies that exist and that will be maintained all summer, such as 811, the pediatric line or the first line access window. We invite the population to use these services that work before going to the emergency room. It takes the pressure off our hospitals, and therefore on our staff. »

Falling pressure

The labor shortage has increased recently. The MSSS is looking for 6,500 nurses, just over 5,000 patient attendants and nearly 300 respiratory therapists.

To ensure the service, 8.6% of the hours worked are overtime.

Still, the pressure on the health network has been decreasing since this winter. The emergency departments receive an average of 9,500 visits per day, slightly less than the pre-pandemic volume. The ER occupancy rate is 107%, down from a peak of 131% this winter.

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