2 appointed to tackle Gatineau ER troubles

Two new positions have been created at the Hull and Gatineau hospitals to help solve long waits, understaffing and other problems in the overburdened emergency rooms.

Hospital head Andr Rodier named Dr. Alain Tanguay as the hospitals' new emergency room coordinator Thursday and charged Dr. Andr Moreau with making sure patientsget accessto hospital beds without major delays.

Moreau said their main focus will be getting different departments to work together.

He said many emergency room patients wait for hospital beds because they're occupied by patients awaiting placement in a long-term care facility or a rehabilitation centre, or those who should be returning home to their families.

"These patients should not be in the hospital," Moreau said.

By refocusing resources, hospital officials should be able to reduce wait times in Gatineau and Hull emergency rooms by the spring, he said.