PHOTO OLIVIER JEAN, PRESS ARCHIVES
“How do you fill the staffing gap without finishing off health workers?” “Asks our columnist.
How to fill the staffing gap without finishing the health workers? This is the challenge facing Minister Christian Dubé. And he has little time to pick it up.
It was well explained to us this week, we are up against the wall. It is estimated that around 20,000 healthcare workers are infected with COVID-19, in isolation or awaiting a test result. Add to that all those who are absent for other medical reasons, and we come to the impressive figure of 50,000 absent, according to Minister Dubé.
COVID-19 cases are on the rise. The number of hospitalizations too. Result: we go to level 4 of the load shedding, that is to say that a person suffering from a stroke will perhaps be redirected to an emergency room further from home, that a cancer diagnosis will be postponed or that a pregnant woman will not give birth in the hospital that followed her during her pregnancy. It is easy to imagine the anxiety that this can cause and the disaster scenarios that could result from it.
Assistant Deputy Minister for Health Lucy Opatrny said Thursday that in the short term, 1,000 beds must be freed. And that all the load shedding measures mentioned will not even be sufficient to achieve this.
On the floor, the phrase “at the end of the line” is no longer strong enough to describe the mindset of healthcare workers. Yes, the system is all wrong and it will take a serious assessment when this crisis is over, but for now, this is not the time to get stuck in the flowers of the carpet (especially since there will be no probably no one to take care of us if we get injured…).
Minister Dubé and the unions are in “conversation” these days. So much the better. Because there are still solutions that can be applied quickly and which, without adjusting everything, will give the system a little oxygen.
First, canceling vacations for health workers is not a good idea. Psychologically, it is the straw that would break the camel’s back. People need to recharge their batteries, to see respite on the horizon. Taking their vacation away could lead them straight to the exit and we will not be any further ahead. On the other hand, part-time employees could all do an extra shift (some already do). And, in exchange, the government could acquiesce to the demand of the unions who demand more local autonomy to manage the working hours in the establishments. This is done in some places and seems to give good results. Let’s go on.
Then, recourse to the private sector seems inevitable. Hélène Gravel, president of the Association of private companies of nursing personnel of Quebec, which represents 16,000 workers, offers to help vaccination so that nurses and health personnel who vaccinate focus instead on patient care. Mme Gravel cites the example of England, which has opened vaccination clinics 24 hours a day, seven days a week. As a result, more than 70% of those 50 and over have already received their third dose. In Quebec, it’s around 20%. However, the more quickly you vaccinate, the less likely people will end up in the hospital. Refusing private participation is a luxury that cannot be afforded.
We could also think about boosting the “I contribute” campaign to recruit other agents. A recruitment campaign targeting administrative staff would take the strain off healthcare workers, who waste precious time filling out paperwork.
Let’s talk about personal protective equipment now. It is time to put aside the debates among scientists around the effectiveness of the N95 mask if it is poorly fitted, moderately well fitted, or very well fitted. The same goes for endless analyzes to find out which employee should be entitled to this famous mask. Bureaucracy no longer has a place in this file. Do healthcare workers feel safer with the N95? Give them. Minister Dubé assured this week that there was enough. Perfect. That we distribute them to all those who are in contact with the public.
Another measure that could save time and energy is to offer PCR screening tests in the workplace. For the moment, only a few establishments offer it to their staff. This service should be available to everyone. If we want to take care of our “guardian angels”, let’s start by making their lives easier. We must ensure that they do their work not in the best possible conditions – it would be telling stories to claim that at the present time – but in the least bad conditions under the circumstances. We are there.