Concern over health care workers has escalated at a time when access to protective equipment, such as masks, has been restricted.
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In the past few days, TVA Nouvelles has received several hundred cries from the hearts of health network personnel who say they are extremely worried.
A message to the healthcare team of a hospital in Estrie indicates that “two masks per day are authorized in order to preserve the current reserve of masks”.
These masks, basic, have a limited duration of effectiveness.
TVA Nouvelles also obtained a copy of an internal note sent last Thursday to all managers of the CIUSSS de l’Estrie-CHUS.
“Faced with the shortage of personal protective equipment, we must rationalize their use across our establishments,” it reads.
On Wednesday, Prime Minister François Legault wanted to reassure the nursing staff.
“There is no shortage of protective equipment in Quebec, but there have been distribution problems and there may have been small directive problems” assured François Legault in a press briefing.
“We want to know what is happening on the ground. What we are saying is that we will correct the situation as soon as we know it, because indeed, it is a distribution problem since we have the capacity, ”said the Minister. Health and Social Services, Daniell McCann.
On the staff side, however, we hope to see results soon, since the more limited the access to equipment, the higher the risk and stress.
“They shouldn’t feel like they are entitled to one mask a day. We must keep health care professionals safe and secure, ”says the president of the Quebec Interprofessional Health Federation (FIQ), Nancy Bédard.
-With information from Jasmin Dumas.
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