by Camilla Faragalli
Shawville
Mar. 15, 2024
The Centre Intégré de Services Santé et de Service Sociaux de L’ Outaouais (CISSSO) has made changes to its services such that people wishing to get blood work done at the Pontiac Hospital are no longer able to do so by appointment.
While no official spokesperson was available for comment, CISSSO communications and media relations advisor Patricia Rhéaume confirmed the change.
In an email to THE EQUITY, she explained that since Mar. 11, CISSSO has resumed the pre-covid practices for blood work.
“Blood sampling services are offered on a walk-in basis in order to provide customers with rapid access for blood sampling. We have the necessary resources in place,” the email said.
Not all local residents seem to agree that the hospital has the resources to support the demand for blood work in a timely manner.
Shawn Rutledge, a welder in Shawville, has to visit the hospital for blood work every two weeks since undergoing open-heart surgery. He said the appointment protocol introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic meant he could be in and out of the hospital in about an hour for each appointment.
“I work for myself and I don’t have time to go and sit there all day,” he told THE EQUITY.
Rutledge said that on his most recent visit following the reversal back to the walk-in system, he arrived at the hospital at 7:30 a.m. and found 35 people in the waiting room.
“I like the appointments better,” he said. “It worked 10 times faster.”
