Lawyers for Herron CHSLD, local health authority dispute events that led to care crisis

A total of 47 people died in the spring of 2020 at the HerronCHSLD, a private long-term care homein Montreal's West Island, and residents endured horrific conditionsbrought upon by a shortage of staff and a lack of personal protective equipment.

But preciselywho is to blame for what transpired remains the subject of debate.

On Wednesday, at the provincial inquiry presided over by Coroner Ghane Kamel, lawyers representing both Herron and the local health authority, the CIUSSS de l'Ouest-de-l'le-de-Montral, offered their versions of what led to the dire situation in April 2020.

Alexandre Paradis, the Herron lawyer, told Kamelthat the residence was generally well-run before the pandemicbut beset by staff shortages.

He said owners tried to get help in the weeks leading up to the crisis in the first weeks of the pandemic, inMarch 2020, but the CIUSSSoffered little support, forcing Herron's operators to turn to privateagencies for temporary workers.

In future, he said, the CIUSSS should have a "bank of personnel available and respond to calls for help."

What Paradiscalled "the beginning of the end" for Herron came when managers from the CIUSSS effectively took over running the residence on March 29.

He said what happened over the next 10 days was "total chaos," and he saidit was never clear who from the CIUSSS was responsible for what.

He said Herron owners tried to collaborate with the CIUSSS butwere shut out.

By contrast, the lawyer for the CIUSSS, Jean-Franois Pedneault, said Herron was inadequately managed well before the pandemic, with chronic staff and equipment shortages.

According to Pedneault, when the CIUSSS intervened, the owners failed to share key information and documents.

Wednesday's presentationsare part of the final stage of the provincial inquiry into deaths in long-term care homes during the first wave.

A report released Wednesday by Quebec's health and welfare commissioner, JoanneCastonguay, said slow decision-making by public health officials, a "paternalistic" attitude toward seniors and thelack of a coherent pandemic plan contributed to the devastation in long-term care homes during the early months of the pandemic.

In all, more than 4,800 people died in Quebec long-term care homes during the first wave, between the end of February and early July 2020.