Struggling with a significant shortage of workers, many of whom are infected with the Omicron variant, the CISSS de l’Outaouais announced Monday that the emergency room in Saint-André-Avellin will be temporarily closed from January 5 to 28.
Saint-André-Avellin emergency personnel will go to the emergency department at Papineau hospital in Gatineau, where several employees are missing. This reorganization aims to “avoid a breakdown in emergency service at the Papineau hospital,” said the CISSS de l’Outaouais in a press release.
During the closure of the Saint-André-Avellin emergency room, emergency room doctors will offer medical consultations to the family medicine group (GMF) located in the same building as the emergency room. Patients will be able to get an appointment by going to the emergency room, where an employee can give them an appointment at the GMF. Saint-André-Avvelin emergencies are open Monday to Saturday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
For the CISSS de l’Outaouais, this reorganization will have “little impact” for the population of the region.
The CISSS de l’Outaouais is not the only health establishment to be grappling with a staff shortage. There is currently a shortage of more than 11,000 health workers in Quebec, according to TVA. Some establishments would consider having recourse to ministerial decree 2020-007 limiting the vacations of certain workers to avoid disruption of services.