Donald Teuma-Castelletti
OUTAOUAIS Jan. 7, 2019
Citizen’s group Pontiac Voice have announced their support for the removal of the Centre intégré de santé et des services sociaux de l’Outaouais’ (CISSSO) leadership, following sharp criticism of the body by elected officials in the Gatineau Valley.
The group is requesting “the departure of the directors currently serving at CISSSO, particularly Mr. Jean Hébert” according to a press release, due to what they describe as CISSSO’s excessive centralization and the negative effects it has on its rural regions.
The press release was issued by Pontiac Voice on Dec. 19, after Chantal Lamarche, the warden of MRC Gatineau Valley, spoke to CISSSO’s board of directors about her MRC’s concerns on Dec. 13. Representing the mayors of her MRC, Lamarche accused CISSSO CEO and President Hébert of neglecting rural regions in favour of urban ones.
Gatineau Valley’s complaints stem from a lack of specialists at the hospital in Maniwaki. The situation proved dire enough to bring in help from other parts of the province just to keep the operating room open.
A letter was also sent to Danielle McCann, Quebec’s Minister of Health and Social Services, seeking CISSSO CEO Hébert’s removal.
In response, McCann appointed Sylvain Gagnon as a special representative on Dec. 14 to CISSSO with the mandate of recording all the issues raised. The information will be compiled in a report due to the Minister on Jan. 31, including any recommendations that Gagnon may have.
Pontiac Voice spokesperson Josey Bouchard said this appointment of Gagnon is promising, as they feel that there’s a chance their concerns will finally be addressed.
“It is a step in the right direction and an acknowledgement that there is a problem with the way CISSSO is dispensing services in the rural, and even urban, areas,” said Bouchard, via email on Jan. 7.
She continued to say that as of press time, they have not met with Gagnon, but are trying to get in touch to highlight the Pontiac’s concerns.
Pontiac Voice lists several changes since the implementation of CISSSO as the governing body as detrimental to the Pontiac region healthcare system. These include the centralization of decision-making roles to urban areas, moving residents out of the Thomson Residence into Gatineau, and changing walk-in vaccination clinics to clinics that require appointments made by phone or email.
The group further stated that the changes have left patients feeling like nothing more than a number, as they’re forced to travel further from their communities for care.
“It is therefore high time that they leave and we strongly support the request for departure of Mr. Jean Hébert,” concludes the press release.
