Once again, the health authorities asked the population to avoid the emergencies of the main hospitals in the Laurentians on Sunday, while occupancy rates go as far as exceeding 170%, in particular due to the influx of tourists.
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More specifically, the Laurentian Integrated Health and Social Services Center (CISSS) asked the population to avoid emergencies in the hospitals of Saint-Eustache, Saint-Jérôme and Laurentien, in Sainte-Agathe-des-Monts. At around 9 a.m., these hospitals had emergency occupancy rates ranging from 128% in Saint-Jérôme to 178% in Sainte-Agathe-des-Monts.
The health authorities had to launch an appeal to the population for a second weekend in a row. However, it was expanded on Sunday to include the emergency room at Laurentian Hospital, which had been spared the previous weekend.
“Various factors explain these excesses, in particular the numerous staff absences following the pandemic and the increase in consultations by the population in this more stable period in the face of COVID-19. Not to mention that the Laurentians region receives a high number of tourists during this summer period, which increases the needs in terms of health and social services ”, argued the CISSS in a press release.
Last week, Valérie Lapensée, the communications manager of the Union of Workers of the Laurentians in Health and Social Services-CSN, explained that these different hospitals must manage cases of intoxication and accidents resulting from tourism in the region. region.
Citizens are invited to avoid these emergencies in the event of a minor health problem and to turn to other services, such as their family doctor or pharmacist, walk-in clinics, or even advice on information. Health at 811.
“People with critical health problems should not hesitate to come to our emergency room, we do not want them to postpone their consultation at any time,” said CISSS President and CEO Rosemonde Landry.
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