J.C. Posted November 23, 2006 Share Posted November 23, 2006 Would love to be with you on the forum, but having to wait for treatment is getting worst than ever in Quebec. Love to all Jackie The Largest Hospital of the Montérégie Region no Longer Meets the Needs of the Population: 69 Surgeries Cancelled in Two Months. Longueuil, November 22, 2006 — Over 50 medical specialists from Charles LeMoyne Hospital warn that the alarming situation in their institution has reached a critical threshold and demand that concrete measures be immediately taken. “The shortage of nursing personnel and restricted access to operating suites have created a crisis resulting in a growing number of last minute cancellations and the postponement of an increasing number of interventions. In certain cases, this can lead to tragic consequences for our patients”, declared the hospital’s Chief of Vascular and Thoracic Surgery, Dr. Pierre Larose. Providing an example in support of this statement, Dr. Larose noted that the number of beds reserved for neurosurgery has fallen from 20 to 13 over the past years, and this despite the fact that Charles LeMoyne is the only centre equipped to offer neurosurgical care on the South Shore of Montréal. “In this service alone, there are on average 15 to 20 patients waiting for surgery to treat spinal cord compression caused by arthrosis or a herniated disk. These patients must, at times, wait several weeks before receiving treatment, risking a deterioration of their condition that may even go as far as paralysis”, he explained. In the case of orthopaedic care, wait time is presently approximately nine months. This delay is clearly unacceptable. Serving a territory of some 1.4 million inhabitants, Charles LeMoyne is the largest hospital complex in the Montérégie region, and the only one to offer certain specialized care such as traumatology, oncology, neurosurgery, and vascular and thoracic surgery. It is also a teaching hospital affiliated with the University of Sherbrooke. In their denunciation, doctors united through the association Comité pour un meilleur accès aux soins spécialisés, underline the fact that two operating rooms have long been unused because of a lack of resources. “How can you explain that a regional centre that is a reference for certain subspecialities, and that is located in one of the most densely populated regions, be deprived to such an extent of an adequate number of operating rooms and of beds in recovery, in intensive care and on the floors to treat its patients”, added Dr. Jacques Desnoyers, orthopaedist. “The hospital’s missions are not always fulfilled due to a flagrant lack of rigour in the administration of resources. Charles LeMoyne is one of the four traumatology centres in Quebec. Despite this fact, it has occurred on several occasions, and continues to occur, that certain specialisations are not available to treat emergency cases. In the eventuality of large and sudden demand for services, caused by, for example, a drama or major accident, it could potentially be impossible for our hospital to react to the situation in a rapid and efficient manner ”, continued Dr. Desnoyers. In its sensitization campaign, the Committee also denounces the strategy of disinformation employed by authorities, which implies that the situation in Quebec is generally improving. “This is certainly not the case at Charles LeMoyne, states Dr. Larose. We demand that corrective measures be implemented urgently. We and our patients live with this unacceptable situation on a daily basis. For this reason, we intend to mobilize South Shore residents and obtain their support in order to bring access to specialized care in their hospital back to mandatory levels.” The information campaign implemented by the Committee includes, most notably, the launch of a website which allows all residents of the Montérégie region to share their point of view on the question of accessibility to specialized health care. Their comments will be forwarded to the region’s deputies, to their respective caucuses and to the Ministry of Health and Social Services in the coming weeks. The address of the website is: www.soinsspecialises.ca. About the Comité pour un meilleur accès aux soins spécialisés (CMASS) of Charles LeMoyne Hospital The CMASS, or Comité pour un meilleur accès aux soins spécialisés, formed by medical specialists from Charles LeMoyne Hospital, includes approximately fifty doctors from four services which make use of the operating suites. These are: anaesthesiology, gyaenocology, orthopedics and surgery. This last group includes: general surgery, vascular and thoracic surgery, neurosurgery, urology, otorhinolaryngology and opthamology. The committee has recently been established to inform the public and pressure authorities in order to return access to specialized care at Charles LeMoyne to an acceptable level. - 30 - For further information: Gaétan Deschênes 514 217-4200 gaedeschenes@sympatico.ca Michelle Sullivan 514 995-4015 ms@michellesullivan.ca ___________________ To obtain the press release in PDF format, click on the icon : Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ry Posted November 23, 2006 Share Posted November 23, 2006 Jackie-- I am sorry to hear about the wait you have to put up with. Hopefully this article will motivate the individuals in charge to improve their service. Let us know when you find out something. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cindi o'h Posted November 23, 2006 Share Posted November 23, 2006 Hi Jackie. I went to the website to give them a little piece of my mind to help support your community in gaining better control over the lack of medical capabilities at your hospital. The article link is in French. doux? What can we do to help, Jackie? It sounds as if the author of the article is asking for citizens to start to scream. Well, I would love to join in and scream on your behalf. I know how you have suffered for the little bit of care you have received. It's just not right that people need to postpone their medical treatments while jeopardizing their longterm health. This is scary for Canadian citizens. I hope it does get resolved. Let me know how I can help. Cindi o'h Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RandyW Posted November 23, 2006 Share Posted November 23, 2006 One voice is a whisper. A Thousand Voices is Deafening!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrea Posted November 23, 2006 Share Posted November 23, 2006 I am so sorry It is unfair to have to wait. Ihope you get treatment soon. Let us know. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Donna G Posted November 23, 2006 Share Posted November 23, 2006 I worked in Montreal in 91' and 92'. The socialized medicine in Canana runs a lot differently than in the system in the states. They made a law when I was there that you had to be either admitted to the hospital or sent home if you had been in the ER for 2 weeks! They didn't want anyone to be in the ER for more than 2 weeks. These people ate, washed up, etc living lined up on guernies for weeks. I can not imagine anyone in the US tolerating that kind of emergency care. The care was great for all the Canadians that were very healthy and had no acute or chronic problems. Other than that I saw a lot wanting. I also was so upset with the Clintons talking how we needed this system here in the US, "care" available to all by us having --socialized medicine. Donna G Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J.C. Posted November 24, 2006 Author Share Posted November 24, 2006 Not much can be done, not enough specialists or nursing help all over Quebec. Thanks to the past Ministers of Health in Quebec Mr. Rochon and Mrs Marois. Donna, The same is still happening during flu season, also the c-difficile is in all the hoapitals in Quebec. I survive because I have private Health Insurance and a loud mouth. Jackie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kasey Posted November 24, 2006 Share Posted November 24, 2006 Somehow I thought I remembered answering this post of yours, Jackie. I guess I did in my mind. I am disturbed at the lack of care available to you. Glad you have both insurance and a big mouth. If I were there my mouth would be going right along with yours. Keep making noise until you get the resolution you need. Glad to see you, Jackie. You are needed here. Love, Kasey Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shineladysue Posted November 27, 2006 Share Posted November 27, 2006 Jackie, You have my prayers that you will get treatment soon. Your posts are always a gift and so very missed. God Bless. Love, Sue Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j's girl Posted November 27, 2006 Share Posted November 27, 2006 Jackie, My Mom had similar problems in Saskatoon. She was diagnosed in early January and was told she probably wouldn't see an oncologist until sometime in March. Through lots of phone calls to whoever might listen, she found out that there was a cancellation list at the cancer clinic and she had to get herself on it. Within minutes of calling and leaving a message, she got a call back to say she could get in within a couple of weeks. My advice would be to get in touch with the Canadian Cancer Society and asked to be matched up with someone who lives close to you who also had lung cancer. (I can't remember the exact name of the program) That is where my Mom got lots of ideas about how to get the ball rolling. Keep us posted. If I think of anything else, I'll post again. Before Mom's lung cancer battle, I was adamently against private health care. Now I realize things have to change and personally, I think a mixed private/universal system would work. Right now the only thing univeral about our system is the waiting lists, Shauna Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
septq Posted November 27, 2006 Share Posted November 27, 2006 If you feel up to it, I would appreciate understanding what is happening in Canada. Has the government been cutting back on health care ? The result is outrageous (and that's a euphemism) and you, for one, are bearing the brunt of the situation. Here in France we receive many British patients who face a similar situation. If only you had that option, Jackie ! Anne Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MsC1210 Posted November 29, 2006 Share Posted November 29, 2006 Jackie This MIGHT be a step in the right direction. Praying it is anyway. Having watched this type of situation with Brad I can relate to the frustrations. Only through having private insurace AND friends in the right places, so to speak, was he able to get in to see a highly regarded specialist in Calgary. Too little, too late sadly in his case. I pray that the monies going to this coalition will open many, many new doors for you all. My best to you Chris Cancer coalition to receive $260M New national body to boost sharing of research, resources Nov. 25, 2006. 01:00 AM SEAN GORDON IN MONTREAL TANYA TALAGA IN TORONTO STAFF REPORTERS Prime Minister Stephen Harper is remaining true to a pre-election campaign promise by investing $260 million to set up a new national body aimed at fighting cancer. The money will be used over five years to set up the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer, a group that will provide a "clearing house" on national cancer information, including the creation of a new website. It's estimated 153,100 new cases of cancer will occur in Canada this year, and 70,400 people will die of the disease. For years, people who work in the cancer field, from doctors to policy-makers, have called for a national strategy focusing on cancer prevention, screening and dissemination of best practice guidelines for care providers. Health Minister Tony Clement hailed the new body as a solution to a problem that left Canada "on the verge of a national epidemic because of a lack of working together and a lack of knowledge transfer and information sharing." Clement said the benefits of the new agency, which will co-ordinate researchers and cancer doctors across Canada through shared databases, Internet resources, conferences and reference libraries, would include better clinical practice guidelines, research, knowledge transfer, surveillance, prevention and screening. Prime Minister Stephen Harper noted cancer "strikes without warning, plays no favourites and touches all of us," and added, "we believe (the plan) will save lives." Both Harper and Clement said the agency in no way tramples on provincial jurisdictions, a contention disputed by Quebec's health minister. The provincial government says it already has a cancer strategy in place and that Ottawa should hand over Quebec's share of the money spent on the new project. Jeff Lozon, president and CEO of St. Michael's Hospital in Toronto, will head the creation of the group in addition to his duties at St. Mike's. Lozon said the hope is that the partnership will enhance cancer services nationwide. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Treebywater Posted November 29, 2006 Share Posted November 29, 2006 Thinking of you, Jackie. I'm sorry for the terrible wait. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ma's kid Posted November 29, 2006 Share Posted November 29, 2006 Praying things hurry UP! I thought I had responded to your post as well...maybe it's floating around in cyberspace? Blessings Libby Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.