The Interprofessional Health Federation of Quebec (FIQ) is concerned about the “delay observed in the preparation” of the health network to “face the fifth wave of COVID-19” and the growth of the Omicron variant. The organization urges Quebec to put in place measures to prevent the last waves.
“We would like to convey to you our serious concerns regarding the delay observed in the preparation of the network to face the 5e wave of COVID-19, which turns out to be meteoric. […] We ask you to put back, without further delay, the preventive measures in place during the previous waves in order to protect the nursing staff and the patients ”, writes the president of the FIQ, Julie Bouchard, in an email sent Monday to the sub- Associate Minister for Health, Vincent Lehouillier, whose Press had a copy.
Mme Bouchard maintains that the new measures announced Monday by the Legault government are not sufficient, because they “did not mention our requests, which we strongly deplore”.
The FIQ calls for the “rapid” implementation of five measures, including the return of “hot, lukewarm and cold zones” and the constitution of teams “dedicated” to these hot zones. The group, which represents nearly 76,000 nurses, is also asking for “a reduction in staff mobility to the maximum” and access to N95 masks “for all staff”.
It is also necessary at all costs to establish “health corridors for the movement of visitors, workers and users”, says the Federation, which implies among other things “rigorous monitoring at the entrance” of hospitals. Another requirement is “adequate and efficient ventilation”.
In her letter, Julie Bouchard also “seriously warns” the government to “consider the return of COVID staff positive in hot zones, even for asymptomatic staff”, as the Minister of Health, Christian Dubé mentioned on Monday. .
In the eyes of the FIQ, “it would be irresponsible to expose other essential workers when we will need all the resources to treat the infected population” “We urge you to step back on this measure, which could seriously compromise the safety of workers. care settings and the public’s confidence in them, ”says Julie Bouchard.
His group affirms that the situation in CHSLDs “remains of great concern”. “The lack of personnel in several facilities and the still very frequent use of independent labor could have serious consequences for the safety, continuity and quality of care. We wish at all costs to prevent the tragedy experienced in the spring of 2020 from happening again, ”insists the president.
The network already “in action”, responds Quebec
Called to react, the cabinet of Minister Christian Dubé confirmed on Tuesday having received the said communication, maintaining however that “well before the FIQ’s request, the health network was in action”. “More than 15,000 healthcare workers have been trained in all infection protection and control measures. These teams are as much in hospitals as in living environments such as CHSLDs and private seniors’ residences, ”explains press officer Marjaurie Côté-Boileau.
She reiterates in passing that “for 20 months, all these measures have been a priority in the health network and this wave is no exception, while we continue to comply with the recommendations of the INSPQ and the directives of the CNESST ”.
The FIQ, for its part, deplores not having received any return to its correspondence, nor having witnessed real “changes on the ground” so far.