Worried about their patients, doctors at the Sherbrooke University Hospital Center (CHUS) in Estrie are sounding the alarm in a letter sent to Duty. The “unprecedented” shortage of nurses that has been affecting their chemotherapy center since last August has led to the postponement of several treatments, they say.
In their letter, the 21 signatories write that several strategies have been studied by the hospital to remedy the situation. However, “exceptional” measures must now be put in place, they emphasize. These include “postponing chemotherapy treatments,” but also “administering treatments outside the establishment,” that is to say, in particular, travel to Longueuil, in Montérégie, for patients who accept, they detail.
Members of the CHUS team of hematologists-oncologists and other cancer specialists say they are concerned for their patients. The “situation could last several weeks and significantly impact the quality of care,” they warn.
Over the past decade, there have been great strides in cancer treatment, the authors of the letter point out. As a result, more patients are now surviving these diseases. However, despite this increase in the need for oncology, the “nursing workforce and infrastructure have not kept up,” they lament. According to these doctors, this causes a “work overload” that leads to sick leave among their teams.
Joined by The Duty, The Integrated University Health and Social Services Centre (CIUSSS) of Estrie–CHUS says it has had to “temporarily reorganize” its chemotherapy services. “We are working in collaboration with the medical teams to ensure that all users receive their treatments safely.”
While the situation is “not desirable,” it is nevertheless “under control” due to the temporary measures put in place, the establishment continues. “In particular, we have set up a service corridor with the Charles-Lemoyne Hospital in Greenfield Park, which will be able to offer some of our users their next chemotherapy treatment.”
The CIUSSS de l’Estrie–CHUS adds that in order to come and lend a hand to the teams, “flying teams will be formed upon the arrival of the next cohort of nurses, who will finish in the coming weeks.”
Under pressure and “exhausted”
The situation at CHUS is not unique, maintains Dr.r Normand Blais, president of the Association of Hematologists and Oncologists of Quebec.
This summer, for a period of six weeks, the outpatient cancer clinic at Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital “had to deal with unforeseen absences of nursing staff in addition to the summer vacation,” wrote the Duty the media relations office of the CIUSSS de l’Est-de-l’Île-de-Montréal. “This has temporarily reduced the capacity to handle new cases,” the establishment specifies. However, the service has been restored “to usual capacities” since mid-August.
Several other chemotherapy centres in Quebec are beginning to see similar situations appear in their centres, says Dr.r Blais: “This is a problem that we are likely to see on a recurring basis.”
Cancer care workers are “stretched to the limit,” laments the hematologist and medical oncologist. “There are a lot of people who can no longer handle this pressure, and it leads to people having to leave for health reasons.”
With the aging of the population, it was “predictable” that the needs in oncology would increase in Quebec, he emphasizes. “We have reached a point where we no longer have the resources necessary to face what is coming before us.”
However, caregivers everywhere are “in solution mode,” assures Dr.r Normand Blais. “We want to solve the problem, but when there is a shortage of staff and there is no easy solution, sometimes it will hurt a little. For example, it means that patients will see their treatments postponed.”
A situation which is far from ideal, he laments, because it adds additional stress to people with cancer.