Expect even more load shedding in Mauritius and the Center-du-Quebec?

Health officials at Mauricie-Center-du-Québec are doing everything in their power to maintain a Level 3 alert and 50% load shedding at their facilities, with a total of 141 people hospitalized in the area.

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Hospitals in the area currently have about 1,300 employees absent. The morale is low, said TVA Nouvelles, president of the Association of Paratechnical Personnel at Mouricie-et-du-Center-du’s Integrated University Health and Social Services Center of Auxiliary and Trade Services (SPPSAM). -Québec (CIUSSS-MCQ) is affiliated with CSN, Mary-Josie Hamelin.

For example, this is done without counting staff who are not on duty due to sick leave.

Many health care workers who have missed several weeks of vacation or are now required to work full-time instead of part-time have to constantly adapt to change.

Human resources are dwindling, but that’s the word I’ve been on everyone’s lips since the beginning of the week.

The area is one of the most affected by hospital admissions in the province, which is not expected in the coming weeks.

“Surely we will be told soon that we are going to fall [niveau] 4. We are the third area in the worst scenario that can happen. We have more cases than hospital beds, ”said Ms. Hamelin.

The Ministry of Health and Social Services has given the green light to three areas, including Mauricie-Center-du-Québec, occupying beds to go to the Level 4 warning regarding the reduction of services, which is beyond the capacity of health. Facilities, does not change the CIUSSS-MCQ alert level.

“If necessary, the ministry has authorized us to move up to level 4. For now we have decided together with our experts to adjust our service offering to keep load shedding at Level 3 and to focus human resources on our priority services. For example services related to emergencies, intensive care, CHSLDs, youth care, oncology and care and COVID-19. With regard to surgeries, we maintain a level of 50% and above by preserving emergency, semi-emergency and oncological surgeries, ”it said in a press release.

In order to move to CIUSSS-MCQ level 4, oncology services, semi-urgent surgeries and cancer follow-ups have to be set aside in some cases. Association of General Practitioners of the Mauritius, Dr. Pierre Martin.

While the network has already slowed down before the epidemic, access to health care for the population will become more difficult, he noted.

According to him, load shedding by the end of January will require a much higher level.

Dr. Martin recalled that this opportunity came very close in hospitals during the first wave.

“When you run out of respirators, you run out, you can not find anything.” Technically, when we look at the statistics from INESSS on expectations and intensive care needs in the coming weeks, it remains a fact that we fear. If we had a ventilator, we might have a chance, but now we do not have one and there is nothing worse for a healthcare professional than telling a patient that you do not meet the standards you have access to. Respirator, for example, because we have only two left and need five of you, ”Dr. Martin portrayed in the sad picture.

Everything is being set up for CHSLD Cook in Trois-Rivieres to become a shelter hotspot for the ten COVID-19 infected residents, with several cases currently being reported at the shelter.

This was confirmed by Nathalie Peran, President of the Interprofessional Health Federation of Mauritius-Center-du-Quebec Union.

She was made aware that CHSLD also lacks protective equipment such as jackets and uniforms.

A meeting between union representatives and CIUSSS-MCQ President and CEO, Carol Fillian, was able to resolve the issue. Ms. According to Hamelin, this is a coordination problem that has been described as “unforgivable”.

She clarified that CIUSSS-MCQ was out of stock and that the equipment should reach the dormitory very quickly on Friday and not be reproduced again. Ms. Hamelin also reported that according to conference rules the area was determined to reach the “peak” of hospitalization within 10 to 14 days or as recently as three weeks.

Regional public health should again hold meetings to discuss the status of health centers, this time really going to the Level 4 alert.