hopsital

Nelson Sergerie, LJI Journalist

GASPÉ – Women’s groups are once again denouncing the situation of understaffed obstetrics departments at hospitals in the Gaspé Peninsula, particularly the one in Sainte-Anne-des-Monts. 

The Haute-Gaspésie hospital has experienced a staff shortage and service disruptions nearly every month for the past two years due to a lack of trained nursing resources available to work in obstetrics. 

Committees have been formed in each of the local networks to find solutions, including training more nurses to work in the obstetrics department. 

“But one of the fundamental issues is retention because the working conditions are demanding. We are calling on the Legault government, Health Minister Christian Dubé, and Gaspé MNA (Member of the National Assembly) Stéphane Sainte-Croix because we believe there is undoubtedly a deeper issue, which is to strengthen local services. The citizens of the Gaspésie and the workers are not second-class citizens because we live in the Gaspésie and we have the right to have local services that operate year-round,” says Nastassia Williams, coordinator of the Table de concertation féministe de la Gaspésie-Îles-de-la-Madeleine, who also speaks on behalf of the Maison des familles Haute-Gaspésie and the Syndicat des infirmières, infirmiers auxiliaires et inhalothérapeutes de l’Est-du-Québec. 

The organizations say these service interruptions generate considerable stress for families expecting a child and pose real risks to the health and safety of the mother and baby. In addition to increasing anxiety, these discoveries can lead to unwanted or unnecessary medical interventions, disrupting the safe progress of deliveries. 

The Gaspé Peninsula Integrated Health and Social Services Centre (CISSS) formed committees last December to find solutions after a series of department closures and service disruptions in Haute-Gaspésie. 

Discussions on the issue are ongoing, “We have nurses working in other departments who have agreed to work in obstetrics, sending them to Quebec City for training at the CHU. We’re in the process of organizing this schedule,” says CISSS President and CEO Martin Pelletier. 

He predicts it will take until the fall for the obstetrics department to stabilize. “The medical staff is also stretched thin. We don’t want to lose a doctor in the meantime, because otherwise, it would be a different story,” says the director. 

But for women, the stakes are higher. Traditionally female professions are more affected, they say. “This is an issue we see in the healthcare and education sectors, which are traditionally female professions, where adequate working conditions have not been provided. It’s a sector that has been neglected for years. We have people who are burning out, people who aren’t being replaced. The day the government considers issues affecting women, whether in terms of services or jobs, as a priority, the issue will decrease and we will have fewer workforce issues,” analyzes Ms. Williams, who points out that public services have been neglected for years.