The former complaints commissioner at CHSLD Herron felt that she was “a necessary evil”, that she was in Herron because there was an obligation in this regard on the part of the ministry.
Hearings with Coroner Géhane Kamel at the Herron Residential and Long-Term Care Center in Dorval resumed Monday for three additional days.
Before the coroner, former local CHSLD Herron complaints commissioner, Marie Amzallag, reported that she had difficulty getting even a phone line and email address at first.
She was to receive complaints from residents and their families, if any. Finally, a box was placed in the establishment to receive complaints as needed.
Moreover, she was unaware that the users’ committee of the establishment had resigned en bloc. Coroner Kamel was surprised, especially since in her reports, the complaints commissioner made recommendations to this users’ committee, as well as to a vigilance committee.
Ms. Amzallag ended up concluding that she was there because the Ministry required such a presence, that she was some kind of “necessary evil” to Herron.
A departure with a ripple effect?
The coroner also heard from a nurse coordinator, who arrived in Herron after the departure of the director of nursing. The CHSLD did not have a nursing director at the time, although it was trying to fill the position, according to management.
Elena Pavelco started at Herron on January 29, 2020 and left on March 20, so shortly after the start of the health emergency.
When he was hired, Herron’s management told him that the priority was to write incident reports on the computer.
Starting in March, she also took steps to obtain protective equipment and translated the instructions from the Department of Health and Social Services for the staff at Herron, who were English-speaking.
But she did not go to the residents’ rooms. She told the coroner that she did not feel a “panic” in the establishment, even a week before leaving.
She left Herron on March 20 to telecommute, saying she was worried about those around her family because of COVID-19. Her mother was vulnerable and her son needed her.
The coroner asked her if, in the absence of a director of nursing, she could be seen by staff as an authority and that this influenced the behavior of other employees.
“I understand your family situation; I have no judgment to make on this; I respect your decision. But from the moment the person who is the authority figure for the other nurses leaves the ship on March 20, do you feel that it sends a funny message? Because then, people will leave one behind the other, in the days that follow, ”said Coroner Kamel.
The CIUSSS recalled
In the afternoon, Brigitte Auger, an executive from the CIUSSS de l’Ouest-de-l’Île-de-Montréal who had already testified before the coroner, returned at the request of the coroner who wanted to clarify certain points.
It was Ms. Auger who had been in charge of the management of Herron, but in collaboration with the management of the private CHSLD, when the CIUSSS landed there on March 29, 2020.
“These are not managers that I sent; there was no one in the office. They were going to provide care, ”she corrected, relating that even though they were managers at the CIUSSS, they had given the residents of Herron a drink, changed diapers, given food.
Yes, the CIUSSS took the situation seriously from the start, she assured. As proof, he himself went to the Dorval CHSLD on March 29.
She pointed out that the CIUSSS de l’Ouest-de-l’Île-de-Montréal, at that time, had to manage nine outbreaks of COVID-19 at the same time. The human resources of the CIUSSS had received 129 requests for help in one day to meet needs in its CHSLDs and in its organization, Ms. Auger reported.
“It is clear that if I had had more employees, I would have sent more” to Herron, she said. There was a lack of staff in health facilities everywhere during the first wave of COVID-19.
Ms. Auger also defended herself for not having involved Herron’s management in its crisis units to facilitate management. She explained that, anyway, she reported daily to the owner of Herron and noted that the owner did not request to participate.
Coroner Kamel did not seek to overwhelm anyone. “I think everyone who’s been there did the best they could. What was lacking was the collaboration between the two, ”she concluded.
Hearings will continue on Tuesday.