The occupancy rate of the emergency department at the Montreal Children’s Hospital has reached 225%.
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The Maisonneuve-Rosemont hospital (148%) and the Sainte-Justine university hospital center (150%) also show worrying occupancy rates.
Although the situation has been problematic for several weeks, the last few days have been marked by an increase in visits for cases of influenza, according to the head of intensive care at Maisonneuve-Rosemont hospital, Dr Francois Marquess.
This large flow of patients puts pressure on hospital staff.
“It was particularly difficult at the weekend, especially because we know that each time we bring in patients, it will become compulsory overtime,” he explains.
Dr. Marquis also indicates that the night shifts, in particular, have been difficult in recent days.
“All the patients have been treated, but it takes a lot of high voltage and administrative acrobatics to succeed in doing so,” he continues.
The Minister of Health, Christian Dubé, meanwhile pledged on Saturday to solve the problem by Christmas.