Popular discontent has intensified in Salaberry-de-Valleyfield since the Integrated Health and Social Services Center of Montérégie-Ouest (CISSMO) announced its desire to transfer 10 services from the Suroît hospital to the future hospital in Vaudreuil-Soulanges, whose construction is scheduled for 2026.
On Tuesday, it was the business community that added its voice to that of citizens during a press conference held outside in the parking lot of a local business in which the mayor Miguel Lemieux, the president, took part. from the Beauharnois-Valleyfield-Haut-Saint-Laurent Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Suzanne Carrier, as well as several entrepreneurs.
“This economic outing is intended to support the current mobilization to maintain services at the Suroît hospital,” said Ms. Carrier, whose organization represents more than a hundred companies. We decided to take a stand and intervene by writing a letter […] which asks the Ministry of Health and the government to modify this orientation. ”
This letter, endorsed by 84 entrepreneurs, elected municipal officials, leaders of community groups and labor organizations, is in addition to a petition signed by more than 7,000 citizens.
“All sectors of the region are mobilizing,” said Mayor Lemieux. This is not a purely community or union movement, it also concerns the business world and all those who will be hurt by the CISSMO decision. ”
L’effet domino
According to protesters, the Suroît region risks being severely affected if it ends up losing its ophthalmology, eye surgery, audiology or the Mother-Child Center, recently renovated thanks to a community donation. of $ 1.8 million.
Thousands of citizens of the suburbs of Salaberry-de-Valleyfield would thus be forced to travel more than an hour to access the services of the new Vaudreuil hospital, located 30 km east of the regional metropolis.
“The region is relatively prosperous for farmers,” explained entrepreneur Karine Gosselin. But how will we promote access to agricultural professions for young families if we deprive them of local services as basic as a birthing unit? ”
The mayor of Salaberry-de-Valleyfield adds that families will not be the only ones to be affected by the CISSMO decision.
“Seniors could be penalized by the loss of services such as ophthalmology, and it is certain that in a region poorly served by public transport, it is the poorest who will pay the price.”
In addition, the politician fears that the construction of the Vaudreuil hospital worsens the problem of employee shortages that plagues the Suroît hospital.
At CISSMO, we try to reassure.
“Remember that the opening of the Vaudreuil-Soulanges Hospital is scheduled for 2026 and that the objective is to have an improved and even more specialized service offer for the population of the CISSS de la Montérégie-Ouest territory”, Mentioned, by email, Jade St-Jean, senior consultant for external communications, media and ministerial relations at CISSMO.
Ms. St-Jean added that CISSMO’s plans are not yet set in stone.
“Work is underway to define the service offer for these specialized practices, while evaluating whether certain services could be maintained locally. In addition, let us specify that contrary to what is conveyed, gynecology and screening mammograms will remain on the territory of Suroît, ”she underlined.
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