The COVID-19 crisis in CHSLDs has highlighted the great “gap” between the Ministry of Health and the field, said coroner Géhane Kamel on Tuesday, who is leading the public inquiry into the deaths that occurred in the CHSLD du Québec in spring 2020.
“Stop with the documents,” she asked the Assistant Deputy Minister of the Seniors and Caregivers Branch, Natalie Rosebush. “I read them, They are super well done. I’m never going to question that. But the reality on the ground? […] What did we do to plan this tidal wave that entered the CHSLDs? She asked herself.
In front of her, the Assistant Deputy Minister stressed that human resources issues were “already a concern before the pandemic”. She spoke of a “world war” for access to protective equipment, stressed the importance of screening and detailed the content of a preparation guide prepared by the ministry for establishments.
“The CHSLD preparation guide, […] indeed, everything is there, ”replied Me Kamel. Except that people “could not have contact with suppliers” to obtain material, she illustrated. “It’s in the plan, they have to prepare, but they don’t even have the capacity to do it,” she said.
Ms. Rosebush also recalled that an expert committee on seniors was formed on April 11. But as of March 31, there were already 400 outbreaks in CHSLDs, said Dr. Jacques Ramsay, who is assisting the coroner in her investigation. ” It’s the “timing” Business. […] The right things were done, but was it done at the right time? He asked. In response, the Assistant Deputy Minister said that work on this had been undertaken “end of February, beginning of March”.
Lawyer Patrick Martin-Ménard, who represents the families of six people who died in CHSLDs, tried to find out whether Ms. Rosebush had been informed of the catastrophic living conditions that prevailed in some CHSLDs. “Have we questioned the combined impact of the absence of caregivers and the lack of personnel? He asked. “Have you heard of residents who haven’t received basic care? He also wondered.
The senior official explained that decision-making, in the midst of a pandemic, fell under “risk management”. She also said that she was informed that there was “a shortage of staff and staff were running.”
“The question is simple: did you know it or you did not know it? », Then intervened Me Kamel. [Saviez-vous] that it was so understaffed that there are people who have not been hydrated properly or have not received their hygiene care? She insisted. “The concern,” Ms. Rosebush replied, “was really the understaffing. I don’t remember any conversations [où on m’a dit] : I am not able to feed them. “
At the very end of Ms. Rosebush’s testimony, the coroner thanked her for her work. “You have come to the right place. […] You know your job, ”she said. “I stay on my appetite,” she continued nonetheless. “The more we advance towards the finish line of this investigation, the more I realize that the orientations given by the ministry, we cannot say that it was not clear. But between the ministry and this [qui se rendait au] land, the ditch is large, ”she said sorry.