West Island CIUSSS

Unions fight back over West Island CIUSSS cuts

Local Journalism Initiative / / / ,

By Chelsey St-Pierre
The Suburban

The four main unions representing more than 15,500 employees at the West Island CIUSSS are speaking out as a second round of staffing and service reduction cuts rolls out this spring. The latest cost-saving measures, which follow initial cuts stemming from a budget recovery plan announced last November, are affecting everything from job postings and overtime to basic support services.

In this latest wave, the CIUSSS is moving ahead with abolishing positions, freezing external hiring, cancelling some workload assignments and replacements, and even closing several kitchens within the health network. Housekeeping services have also been scaled back, and unions say this is already having an impact on conditions in care environments and operating rooms.

The Association of Professionals and Technicians in Health and Social Services (APTS) reports that more than 90 specialized positions in both health care and social services have been cut. The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) points to longer surgical wait lists and reduced hygiene care as direct results of these staffing shortages. Both unions are hearing increased complaints from staff and patients about the effects of these changes.

Nursing and respiratory therapy teams represented by the Syndicat des professionnelles en soins de santé de l’Ouest-de-l’Île-de-Montréal (SPSSODIM) are also feeling the impact. The union warns that the current pace of reductions risks repeating the pandemic-era cycle of excessive workloads, burnout, and leave for disability, which in turn fuels more staff shortages.

Administrative departments are under pressure as well. The local SQEES-FTQ union, representing nearly 2,000 office and support staff, says that with summer vacation approaching and no overtime replacements available, some departments could face temporary closures. The union is recommending a review of scheduling and the use of temporary workload assignments to keep services running and avoid gaps during peak vacation periods.

Management at the West Island CIUSSS has not issued a detailed public response to the most recent union statements. The agency is working to address an $80 million budget shortfall, or about six percent of its annual budget, as part of a wider provincial drive to control health network costs. Since last fall, over a thousand positions have been eliminated across Quebec; the local effects in the West Island are now being felt.

Unions say they have made proposals for alternative cost-saving measures but have not seen those options seriously considered. For now, the future of local health and social services remains uncertain as staff shortages and service reductions continue to unfold. Many in the West Island community are left wondering how these changes will affect their access to care and the quality of the services they rely on. n

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West Island CIUSSS unveils simulation centre at LGH

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , , ,

By Chelsey St-Pierre
The Suburban

The West Island CIUSSS has officially launched its new Centre for Simulation and Learning at the Lakeshore General Hospital, marking a significant step forward in healthcare education and training. The inauguration, held on April 10, brought together healthcare professionals and students to celebrate the facility’s opening and explore its capabilities.

The simulation centre is designed to provide a realistic and safe environment for medical training, allowing students, residents, and seasoned clinical professionals to hone their skills through immersive simulations of complex medical scenarios. Equipped with high-fidelity mannequins, pediatric and neonatal simulators, and advanced tools for laparoscopy and ultrasound procedures, the centre aims to bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application.

The facility will allow healthcare professionals to access simulation technology for comprehensive training opportunities in real-life situations within a controlled environment.

The simulation scenarios are designed to mimic real-life clinical situations, enabling participants to practice their skills in a controlled setting. This approach fosters critical thinking, problem-solving, and teamwork, ultimately leading to more effective interventions and improved patient outcomes.

The Lakeshore General Hospital Foundation played a vital role in bringing the simulation centre to fruition, providing crucial funding and support for the project. The foundation’s involvement reinforces its ongoing commitment to advancing healthcare services in the West Island community.

In attendance at the inauguration were Najia Hachimi-Idrissi, Associate President and CEO of Clinical Programs and Academic Mission for the West Island CIUSSS; Jean-François Miron, Associate Executive Director of Standardization; Fatima Azzahra Lahrizi, Director of Academic Affairs and Innovation; France Desjardins, Board Member with expertise in community organizations; Dr. Robin Nathanson, Dr. Yasmin Halwani, Richard Legault, President of Human, Property and Information Resources; Youssef Lazar, Iman Saad Kamal Hassan, and Wael El Natour.

The West Island CIUSSS’s Centre for Simulation and Learning represents a significant investment in the future of healthcare, ensuring that medical professionals are equipped with the knowledge and skills necessary to meet the evolving needs of the community. By providing a safe and realistic training environment, the centre will contribute to improved patient outcomes, enhanced clinical performance, and a stronger healthcare system overall. This initiative not only benefits current healthcare providers but also serves as a valuable resource for training the next generation of medical professionals. n

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West Island CIUSSS slashes 160 jobs

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , , ,

By Chelsey St-Pierre
The Suburban

The healthcare landscape in Montreal’s West Island is undergoing significant changes as the West Island CIUSSS announced plans to eliminate more than 160 positions, marking another chapter in Quebec’s contentious healthcare reform under the newly established Santé Québec.

The local health authority, grappling with an $80 million deficit—approximately six percent of its annual budget—will implement these cuts across both administrative and clinical sectors over the coming months. The announcement comes amid broader provincial healthcare restructuring that has already seen over 1,000 healthcare positions eliminated across Quebec between mid-November and mid-December.

The impact is already being felt on the ground. The agency has begun cost-cutting measures by ending approximately 100 replacement assignments, affecting positions covering maternity and disability leaves. Additionally, it is reducing overtime and eliminating certain on-call bonuses.

Dr. Paul Saba, a family physician in Lachine with extensive emergency room experience, warns that these cuts could have serious implications for patient care. “Cutbacks in healthcare will have an impact on healthcare outcomes,” Dr. Saba told The Suburban. “Rather than cut back on healthcare resources they need be relocated to areas that are pressing such as long wait times for surgeries, radiology services, including diagnostic biopsies and frontline services, including primary healthcare.”

Dr. Saba emphasizes the potential domino effect of these cuts. “If there are cutbacks in hospital services such as hospital admissions, the emergency rooms will back up, causing more delays in care,” he explained, adding that delayed services could prove life-threatening when early interventions are necessary.

Healthcare workers’ unions have expressed serious concerns about the impact of these cuts. Union representatives warn that it’s impossible to implement such significant staffing reductions without affecting service quality, potentially creating a ripple effect where reduced services in one area lead to increased pressure on emergency rooms and other acute care services.

Adding to the complexity, recent studies show that 43 out of every 100 new nurses in Quebec leave the profession before turning 35, a 29 percent increase since 2013. This retention crisis, combined with the current job cuts, raises questions about the long-term viability of these cost-saving measures.

“The government needs to be transparent about where the cuts are being done and their potential outcomes,” Dr. Saba stresses. As the West Island CIUSSS moves forward with its restructuring plan, the healthcare community watches closely. The success—or failure—of these measures could set a precedent for similar changes across Quebec’s healthcare system, all while the province continues its ambitious transformation under Santé Québec’s leadership.

For West Islanders, the message is clear: the healthcare system that they have known is changing. Whether these changes will lead to the improved efficiency promised by Santé Québec or result in reduced access to care, as predicted by healthcare advocates, remains to be seen. What’s certain is that the coming months will be crucial in determining the future of healthcare delivery in the West Island. n

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West Island Health Authority informs patients of language rights

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , , ,

By Chelsey St-Pierre
The Suburban

The West Island CIUSSS has placed posters throughout the healthcare institutions it manages to inform patients on their right to be served in English. Why does the health authority feel the need to do this initiative?

The answer lies in the highly criticized 31-page document issued by the CAQ government last July to apply Bill 96 language laws, created to “preserve the French language” and “strengthen” Bill 101, now in health care.

The controversial application of the law to healthcare could restrict complete access to healthcare services for Anglophones and impede on their rights under the Canada Health Act. “The CAQ government is prepared to sacrifice fundamental constitutional rights to life, liberty and security of the person to fulfill its language goals,” Montreal lawyer Julius Grey has stated.

Effective communication is essential in ensuring the safety of patients. Restricting a means of communication in healthcare can be potentially dangerous or life threatening. The CAQ government argues that the law is exempt in emergency situations, however without effective communication a situation that may be urgent, yet unapparent, could be overlooked without a means of communication. Cutting the line between patients and healthcare professionals and/or professionals within the institution is dangerous.

The immediate reactions of elected officials at every level of government, healthcare professionals and the general public generated a “revised” statement by Quebec’s French Language Minister Jean-Francois Roberge in less than a month, but not a retraction.

While the threat of impact on the Anglophone community looms in “revision”, the health authority has taken it upon itself to clarify their basic rights to be served in English.

The Suburban reached out to the CIUSSS-ODIM for comment. The authority’s representatives did not respond by press time. n

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