(Quebec) The two private mini-hospitals promised by the Legault government during the election campaign will ultimately take the “more niche” form of geriatric clinics.
This was indicated by the Minister of Health Christian Dubé during the study of his ministry’s budgetary appropriations in a parliamentary committee on Tuesday.
He then responded to questions from Quebec Solidaire (QS) MP Vincent Marissal about the CAQ commitment of private mini-hospitals – one in the east of Montreal and the other in the greater Quebec region.
The QS health spokesperson reported that the documents sent by the government to the opposition reveal that “the clinical model adopted in this file corresponds to a geriatric outpatient center with day clinical services adapted” to the elderly. . ” Why this choice ? » he asked.
The government made some observations “between the announcement made initially and all the work done” in this matter by CAQ MP Youri Chassin. “The issue is the increase in the volume of the population in emergency rooms”, an aging population, explained the minister.
“We were told by our experts that there is a significant deterioration in elderly people when they go to the emergency room. If they are eight, ten, twelve hours on a stretcher, there is nothing worse. Sometimes, they can leave more damaged than when they arrived. »
Result: the concept of private mini-hospitals is revised. “We decided to go with a more niche model. Could we create a geriatric emergency, therefore mainly aimed at aging clients, to give them an environment that is different from what we see in a normal emergency? » This “mini-emergency” would be “much more oriented towards the needs of an aging clientele”.
He gave the example of a pediatric emergency in Quartier DIX30 in Brossard and another of the same type in Saint-Eustache where the services are adapted for children. “Parents are fascinated” because it almost feels like a CPE or daycare, he said.
Calls for tenders to build the two geriatric clinics will be launched “in the coming weeks”. The deadline is tight. “I’m talking to you about opening an emergency room next year. Are we able to meet the needs of Quebecers more quickly? » replied the minister to Vincent Marissal, who condemned the use of the private sector.
Christian Dubé argued that the private partners will own the buildings and will have an agreement with the State for a period of five or ten years in order to offer services to patients who will be covered by health insurance. It’s like a group of family doctors or a pharmacy, he argued.