By Ruby Pratka
Local Journalism Initiative
The CLSC Lac-Brome will be closed from June 17 to Sept. 8 and the CLSC Sutton will be open only two days a week during the same period, the CIUSSS de l’Estrie-CHUS has confirmed.
The reduced hours are in anticipation of staff shortages as many employees go on vacation. “Like every year at this time, we are making service adaptations to take into account the workforce situation and the needs of the population. Each time we make an adjustment, we ensure that there are CLSC services accessible within a reasonable distance to receive care and services,” CIUSSS spokesperson Nancy Corriveau told the BCN.
Contrary to certain media reports, Corriveau said there would be no change to the opening hours of the CLSC de Bromont, which would remain open two days a week.
Corriveau said the scheduling changes had been announced during a press conference May 16. Although the press conference generally addressed summer scheduling changes and service cancellations, the Lac-Brome and Sutton closures were not specifically mentioned during the event. A CIUSSS press release previously said the Lac-Brome testing centre and “nursing care service point” would be closed during the summer.
Brome Lake Mayor Richard Burcombe said he found out about the impending closure a few weeks ago from a town receptionist who also worked at the CLSC. “There was no consultation – it was an arbitrary decision,” he said. He called the situation “unacceptable.”
“We’re being treated as second-class citizens. Right now, it takes two weeks at a minimum to get an appointment, and by closing us completely and reducing the hours in Sutton…it will make the delays even worse,” he said. “We have an elderly population, and we also serve West Bolton, Brome Village and parts of Potton and Sutton … now, those people will have to go to Cowansville or Bromont.”
He noted that last year, the CIUSSS announced plans to close the CLSC for the summer but it was ultimately kept open two days a week after backlash from the public. “It’s very important to keep that public pressure up,” he said.
Sutton Mayor Robert Benoit was dismayed to learn from members of the media that CLSC hours were being cut in Sutton. “There was a communiqué that mentioned [Brome Lake] but there was no mention of Sutton,” he said. “I support the mayor of Brome Lake and we’ll try to make our voices heard. I know [the CIUSSS] is having difficulties with human resources, but this is an essential service and at the end of the day we have to find a way.”
“I understand the concerns raised by citizens of Brome Lake following the modulation of health services for the summer which will result in the temporary closure of the CLSC Lac-Brome. The CIUSSS de l’Estrie-CHUS assured us that this is a temporary measure taken in a context of labour shortage and staff taking vacations. We also know that dressing, routine nursing and laboratory services will be available at the local service point in Cowansville, located 20 minutes away, and in three other CLSCs less than 15 minutes from Brome Lake. My team and I will continue to monitor the situation closely,” Brome-Missisquoi MNA Isabelle Charest said in a brief statement.