Budgetary restrictions in the health network were to focus on administration, but Radio-Canada has learned that the Integrated Health and Social Services Center (CIUSSS) of Centre-Sud-de-l’Île-de-Montréal is making job cuts among staff who care for patients.
In total, 50 positions are eliminated in the CIUSSS, which notably includes Notre-Dame Hospital and Verdun Hospital. Among them, there are more than 40 positions for nurses, nursing assistants and beneficiary attendants.
Direct services to the population are affected, testifies a nurse from Notre-Dame Hospital, who does not have authorization to speak to the media. Like her, workers fear for the quality of care offered to patients.
According to our information, Quebec health establishments must find more than a billion dollars in savings (New window) to return to budget balance by March 31, 2025.
The Ministry of Health had, however, warned that optimization measures should not have the effect of affecting services to the population. It was only a question of measures that would affect the administrative level.
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The Minister of Health, Christian Dubé, and his deputy minister Daniel Paré (Archive photo)
Photo : Radio-Canada / Ivanoh Demers
The CIUSSS indicates that in addition to the 50 permanent positions abolished, 123 vacant positions are cut.
The establishment gives the example of three eliminations of nursing positions in intensive care at Notre-Dame Hospital by the start of next year. They will not lead to any end of employment and no reduction in services to the population, maintains the CIUSSS.
These abolitions follow the removal of “superstructures” created during the COVID-19 pandemic. Faced with the health emergency, the CIUSSS added temporary positions to meet exceptional needs, as was the case for intensive care. Today, these measures are no longer necessary.
A quote from Geneviève Paradis, spokesperson for the CIUSSS du Centre-Sud-de-l’Île-de-Montréal
Employees affected by these abolitions will be accompanied and supported by human resources teams, says the CIUSSS.
Displays [226] will be open shortly and we are convinced [que les personnes dont les postes sont abolis] will find a position suited to their skills and [à leurs] aspirations.
The president of the Union of Health Care Professionals of the Centre-Sud-de-l’Île-de-Montréal (FIQ), Denis Joubert, is hopeful of convincing management to reverse course.
It’s clear [qu’avec] 21 nursing positions [abolis] in our establishment, there will be an overload for those who stay.
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Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital (Archive photo)
Photo : Radio-Canada / Ivanoh Demers
Other CISSS and CIUSSS soon to be affected?
At the CIUSSS de l’Est-de-l’Île-de-Montréal too, the union affirms that the time has come for budgetary rigor. We have been told of some job eliminations, says Denis Cloutier, local president of the Union of Healthcare Professionals (FIQ).
He says the establishment is limiting the increase in expenses by not filling vacant positions or replacing employees on sick leave, which increases the already heavy pressure on staff.
If work normally done by three nurses is done by two nurses, this necessarily affects the quality of care.
A quote from Denis Cloutier, president of the Union of Healthcare Professionals (FIQ) of the CIUSSS de l’Est-de-l’Île-de-Montréal
The CIUSSS de l’Est-de-l’Île-de-Montréal, which includes the Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital, is one of the largest in the province. It is struggling with a heavy deficit, just like several other establishments in the province. It’s impossible to cut 100 million without affecting healthcare, believes Denis Cloutier.
Establishments must also postpone infrastructure work to try to meet Quebec’s budgetary targets.
The opposition reacts
Is this a joke? It can’t be, reacted on the social network X the liberal spokesperson for Health, André Fortin. Seriously? he wrote, addressing Minister Christian Dubé. No. Just no.
On the side of the Parti Québécois, the spokesperson for Health, Joël Arseneau, declared: When announcing the CAQ’s budgetary restrictions, we mentioned the risks of reducing services to patients. We now have proof.
With the collaboration of Daniel Boily
