CALEB NICKERSONSHAWVILLE
Oct. 18-21, 2019
Over the weekend there was yet another breach in services at Pontiac Community . . .
Hospital (PCH)’s obstetrics unit over the weekend, the fourth interruption since September.The most recent interruption took place from 8 a.m. Oct. 18 to 8 a.m. Oct. 21. While imminent births would still be taken care of by hospital staff, a press release from the health authority CISSSO states that mothers were directed to either Pembroke or Gatineau Hospitals.
This string of interruptions has been blamed on a shortage of staff in the unit, and throughout CISSSO as a whole. The situation has also been festering for some time, as there was nearly a month-long interruption in August that has narrowly averted the deployment of a team of mid-wives to bolster staff.
Both local staff and management in Gatineau have acknowledged that it is difficult to recruit and retain staff for a variety of reasons, including higher pay in nearby Ontario, language requirements and a declining rural population.
At CISSSO’s public forum on Oct. 7, deputy Director General Stephane Lance said that they are attempting to fast track nurse training for the unit, and have even asked retired staff to return and pick up some shifts.
He noted that in a small unit like Shawville’s, one or two absences can make a big difference compared to larger hospitals with more resources.
At the most recent MRC meeting on Oct. 16 (see above), council passed a resolution requesting that the Minister of Health to immediately address the issue of short-staffing.
