(Quebec) Health and Welfare Commissioner Joanne Castonguay will release her much-anticipated final report on the investigation of the performance of the health system during the COVID-19 pandemic on January 19.
Posted at 4:46 p.m.
Its preliminary report, unveiled in September, set the tone: the disorganization of services, a poor assessment of the quality of care and the lack of reliable data “contributed to the sad toll of the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic for the elderly housed in Quebec ”, concluded the Commissioner.
She identified “governance gaps” which explain, at least in part, the high number of deaths during the first wave. As of August 30, 2020, 5,745 people had died from COVID-29, 90% of whom were accommodated in CHSLDs, seniors’ residences (RPA) or intermediate resources.
“At the start of the crisis, there were many missed opportunities to make good decisions, and the consequences of these failed meetings were excessively serious,” wrote Joanne Castonguay in a damning remark for the Legault government.
The tabling of its final report will represent another difficult passage for Quebec. On November 23, the Ombudsperson Marie Rinfret submitted her own investigation report which contradicted the government. There was no directive or initiative from Quebec at the start of 2020 to prepare CHSLDs for COVID-19, contrary to what ex-Minister Danielle McCann and other government representatives maintained before Coroner Géhane Kamel, who is also investigating.
On Friday, the Minister responsible for Seniors and Caregivers, Marguerite Blais, will finally testify before the coroner to deliver her version of the facts. She will do so even though she is still on sick leave for burnout. It is not expected that she will resume her duties soon.