(Quebec) Toasts with peanut butter, bacon, donut and now pizza. The Legault government is calling the CEOs of the CIUSSS and CISSS to order in the wake of the multiplication of cases of nursing staff suspended for eating food intended for patients.
The case of a nurse suspended for eating peanut butter toast in Longueuil, first revealed by the Montreal Journalis far from isolated, according to the Montérégie union. The Press reported Thursday morning that a beneficiary attendant was suspended for five days during the pandemic for eating a slice of pizza that was going to be thrown away.
Earlier this week, the Montreal Journal reported similar cases for staff who ate a donut, bacon and drank coffee. The Minister of Health, Christian Dubé, did not hide his irritation at the revelation of these situations, as he tries to bring personnel back into the network.
Minister Dubé and his colleagues Sonia Bélanger (Health and Seniors) and Lionel Carmant (Social Services) will provide an update with all the CEOs of health establishments. The Deputy Minister of Health, Dominique Savoie, also sends a letter to all the big bosses on Thursday. Managers are reminded that the penalty must be proportional to the action taken.
On Wednesday, Minister Dubé indicated that the Ministry of Health and Social Services (MSSS) is carrying out a “detailed search” to find out what “happened in several situations”.
“So far, what I have asked with my colleague, the Minister Delegate for Health, is to dig deep into each of the cases before taking a position to ensure that we understand exactly what is happened,” said Mr. Dubé during the question period on Wednesday.
The Liberals accuse Christian Dubé of not having “control” of his network.
“Quebecers who expect 15, then 20 hours, I think they see that he does not have control of his ministry. When he says that the ministry, there is a problem of culture, his ministry, it is as if he separated from his ministry. He is the head of the department, he is responsible for it,” said the interim leader of the Liberal Party of Quebec, Marc Tanguay.
On the other hand, the solidarity deputy Vincent Marissal attacks the vision of Minister Dubé, who wants Quebecers to receive a symbolic bill for the care received within a few years.
“Is it to make people feel guilty, to tell them: your myocardial infarction cost $42,000? What’s the difference ? What is the purpose of this? “, he questioned Thursday. He wonders if Mr. Dubé brings back this idea “to create a diversion on the stories of pizza, toast and others”.