Staff shortages continue

additional adjustments compared to what we did in past years,” said Annie Boisvert, adjoining general director of the general and specialized physical health program.

“The challenge is always finding the balance to offer our population a safe, quality service based on the available human resources,” she said.

Boisvert said staff retention was a major factor in developing the latest plan. She said the CHUS aims to “keep our precious resources in the healthcare network and allow them to take very well-deserved vacations.”

“We know that we won’t have enough personnel this summer,” said Karine Duchaineau, adjoining general director of social and rehabilitation programs. As a result, the CHUS plans to cut back or suspend several services.

Day activity centres for people with autism or intellectual difficulties will close for eight weeks, an increase from the usual four. “All of the relatives were notified,” Duchaineau said, “to find an alternative offer for the users.”

Mental health services will continue to operate throughout the region, Duchaineau said, but patients can expect longer wait times than normal. Staff will prioritize the most acute cases, she added.

Urgent services will remain “status quo,” Boisvert said. Still, “we’re asking the population to call on other resources when it isn’t necessary to go the emergency room,” she said.

Though still long, Boisvert said the health authority is stabilizing the surgery wait list. “All emergency surgeries will be maintained,” she said. “There’s no doubt about it.”

In addition to fewer beds, 14 of the region’s 30 operating rooms will close. Several of the OR and bed reductions began in May, though others are slated to close between in June or July. Most services are scheduled to return following Labour Day weekend.

“We’re asking for the public’s collaboration and patience,” Boisvert said. People can help out by cancelling appointments they no longer need and picking up loved ones from the hospital sooner rather than later, she said.

The health authority is hoping it won’t see an increase in mandatory overtime, the practice of obligating healthcare workers to work longer hours than scheduled. “Everything we’re putting in place is to avoid mandatory overtime,” Boisvert said.

“Mandatory overtime is an angle we worked a lot on over the last year and that we’ve managed to reduce,” Duchaineau said. She added that the practice only affects some segments of the workforce.

The plan considered the retention of employees, Duchaineau said, by consulting with managers who were asked to relay employees’ points of view.

Boisvert said staff retention

was a major factor in developing the latest plan. She said the CHUS aims

to “keep our precious resources in the healthcare network and allow them to

take very well-deserved vacations.”