The imminent closure of the Hamford Pavilion, in Lachute in the Laurentians, has other private addiction treatment centers fearing the worst, which have been demanding for several years an adjustment of their funding to ensure their survival.
Confirmation made with the Integrated Health and Social Services Center (CISSS) of the Laurentians, the certificate of conformity of the Hamford Pavilion was revoked on February 20. Everything comes into force on February 24; in doing so, the 23 residents who were undergoing therapy there must be relocated to other treatment centres.
“Maintaining the certification conditions of the Hamford Pavilion has remained a recurring issue for several years, for various reasons,” said Julie Lacasse, communications advisor for the CISSS, in an email.
These issues concern, among other things, the cleanliness of the premises, which would be “poorly heated and presenting risks of mould”, the quality of care and services, “including serious deviations in the application of the pharmaceutical protocol”, as well as issues of governance, the nature of which has not been specified.
In September 2020, the Hamford Pavilion lost its certificate of compliance for the first time, in particular due to issues related to the safety of residents, ethical breaches and a recurring problem of bedbugs. The management of the establishment had tried to obtain a reprieve before the administrative court. An agreement had been reached in extremis to avoid the closure of the establishment, which however had to give a push to comply with the standards established by the CISSS.
The request for an interview from The Canadian Press with the coordination of the Hamford Pavilion has remained a dead letter.
Hecatomb
The closure of the Hamford Pavilion is the latest in what the addictions treatment community considers a “carnage”.
In October 2021, Maison l’Exode, in Montreal, was forced to close one of its pavilions for an indefinite period. In May of the same year, the Maison Face à l’avenir, in l’Assomption, had closed its doors, for lack of a new location to hold its activities. The Maison Jean Lepage, in Trois-Rivières, has also ceased its accommodation service.
In July 2019, the L’Appel center, located in Lévis, also closed its doors for financial reasons.
In 2016, the announced closure of the Center Mélanic, in Saint-André-d’Argenteuil, in the Laurentians, caused a lot of ink to flow. Funding at the last hour and the support of Major Robert Piché had saved the establishment, which however ceased its activities definitively the following year. Its too low occupancy rate had sealed the public funding to which the center was entitled. It was the Hamford Pavilion which had then welcomed its residents.
Another addiction treatment center, L’Inter-Mission, located in Saint-Hyacinthe in Montérégie, will close its doors at the end of March, we were able to confirm with management.
“Other centers find themselves in a very precarious situation,” says Vincent Marcoux, executive director of the Quebec Association of Addiction Intervention Centers (AQCID). When we talk about closure, it’s either due to a lack of funds or an inability of the organizations to maintain their certification due to a lack of funds. It’s the chicken or the egg. »
The number of beds needed to meet detoxification needs is 2,600 in Quebec, of which 2,400 are managed by private organizations, adds Mr. Marcoux. However, as the residents of the centers that are closing their doors are relocated to other establishments, the decrease in the number of beds has led to waiting lists in many centers that are still in operation, which can currently go up to two months.
“But when you want to go into therapy, it’s right away, nuance Nicolas Bédard, president of the board of directors of the Center L’Envolée located in Shefford, in Montérégie. You can’t wait that long. »
Underfunding decried
These closures are mainly caused by a recurring lack of funding allowing establishments to meet the growing demand. As a result, private centers find it difficult to attract and retain qualified staff and to follow the standards that allow them to maintain their certificate of compliance.
“We are not able to follow the salaries of the health network, says Nicolas Bédard. [Le public] hires people coming out of CEGEP at $30 an hour. We are not able to follow. »
“It’s difficult to follow and compete with the salaries offered to the public, also believes Danica Bourque, vice-president of the Coalition of Community Addiction Organizations (COCD). What happens is that we hire students, we train them and then they go to the CISSSs because they can obtain better conditions there. »
The pandemic, the opioid crisis, homelessness and mental health issues have increased demand. However, the workers are reduced to refusing admissions.
“It’s scary,” says Ms. Bourque. It’s the same story all the time, we can’t get enough funding to meet the needs. »
Ms. Bourque, also director of the Centers Beauséjour, indicates that government funding was renewed more than a year ago and until 2024, but that in some centers, contracts are still pending. “We don’t know how the money is distributed,” she laments.
In 2021, the AQCID estimated at $25 million annually the recurring government assistance needed to ensure the quality and maintenance of addiction treatment services. “Funding has been renewed for years, but there has been no revision of the financial framework, which is currently inadequate,” explains Vincent Marcoux. We always receive small shots that allow the body to breathe a little, but not enough for it to be functional. »
It indicates, for example, that treatment centers receive a daily amount per resident. Thus, establishments must be constantly full to receive financial aid. In addition, it is granted for users living on social assistance, stipulates Mr. Marcoux. In doing so, workers and the unemployed must pay for their therapy, which creates inequity in access to care.
Meeting requested with Minister Carmant
Private addiction treatment organizations have wanted a meeting with the minister responsible for their file, Lionel Carmant, for several months. They hope that Quebec will be there and listening this time.
“We need to be heard,” continues Ms. Bourque. We don’t know at all what our funding will look like next year, but it must be improved because the situation is becoming very difficult for certain centres.
” Often, [le ministère] does it at the last minute and tells us that he hasn’t had enough time to review our funding, adds the director. We would like to do it in advance for once. »
The office of Social Services Minister Lionel Carmant did not respond to interview requests from The Canadian Press.
———
This dispatch was produced with the financial assistance of the Meta Exchange and The Canadian Press for the news.