While owners of private CHSLDs not under agreement, victims of an exodus of their staff and an explosion in the use of placement agencies, fear service disruptions and establishment closures, the Minister of Seniors and Caregivers Marguerite Blais assures that Quebec wishes to proceed with the agreement “as quickly as possible”.
Posted at 12:53 p.m.
Wednesday, The Press revealed that some institutions have lost dozens of caregivers to the public network in two years, increasing their use of placement agencies, depending on the location, from 80% to 711%. The financial pressure is unbearable for many. If the situation is not resolved by the summer, establishments will close their doors, others will change their vocation or experience major service disruptions, warn owners. “Incessantly, there will start to be people in the emergency room who are overwhelmed because we are no longer able to replace [les employés] “, said in the article the president of the Association of long-term private establishments of Quebec (AELDPQ), Paul Arbec, whose company has six CHSLDs.
In February, the association sent letters to Minister Blais and Minister of Health Christian Dubé, asking the government, among other things, to enter into an agreement as quickly as possible with non-affiliated establishments in the province, as promised by Quebec, so that they may, among other things, receive the same funding for salaries.
In a press scrum on Wednesday morning, Minister Blais assured that the agreement of CHSLDs, promised by her government, is a “fundamental file”. “What we want is for there to be the same quality of care and services regardless of where an elderly person or a vulnerable person is staying. »
Asked why Quebec was not going faster, she indicated that the transformation process is “very complex”. “Contracting is still complex because each private CHSLD has an individual contract and in this contract, you have to take into account the collective agreements, also take into account the building. There are many factors. »
Remember that a pilot project to contract three private CHSLDs is underway. The establishments participating in the project are bound by the utmost secrecy, which is criticized by both the AELDPQ and the Association of private establishments under agreement, which deplores not being consulted.
The negotiation, indicated Minister Blais, cannot be done in the public square.
During question period in the Blue Room, Liberal MNA Monique Sauvé, official opposition spokesperson for seniors and caregivers, denounced the government’s slowness.
“Two years ago, carnage in CHSLDs. The Prime Minister wanted to nationalize the CHSLDs. Later, we learn that he chooses to contract them instead. We will have to wait until September 30 and the minister’s announcement with a pilot project for three, three private CHSLDs that will be under agreement. […] Six months later for her, two years later for the Prime Minister, we learn this morning that there is nothing done, zero then a bar, “raged the MP. She asked for “a firm schedule for the complete process of contracting private CHSLDs and immediate transition support to ensure quality care for our seniors”.