Patients' advocates push back against Quebec's plan to partially close six ERs

Faced with a staffing shortage that’s expected to get worse as the holiday season begins, the province announced Wednesday it will be reducing services in six emergency rooms this summer.

The Quebec government is abandoning people in need of care and could be putting lives at risk by partially closing several emergency rooms across the province, doctors and patients’ rights advocates are warning.

Faced with a staffing shortage that’s expected to get worse as the holiday season begins, the province announced Wednesday it will be reducing services in six emergency rooms this summer.

But the government was urged to either reconsider the decision or provide concrete alternatives to avoid causing gaps in care during the coming months.

Quebec Health Minister Christian Dubé announced the service reductions on Wednesday, saying the government was left with no choice since there aren’t enough available health-care workers.

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A total of 59,600 employees are projected to be absent from the health network this summer. That’s nearly 8,000 more than last year.

Speaking to reporters in Quebec City, Dubé said there are a host of reasons for the shortages.

Some workers have left the network altogether, some are being treated for long COVID and many others are getting summer vacations this year after not being allowed to take one last year.

https://montrealgazette.com/news/quebec-to-partially-close-six-ers-this-summer