Overcrowding pushes Gatineau hospitals to the limit

The Hull Hospital recorded a 200per cent occupancy rate on Monday, making it one of the most overcrowded hospitals in Quebec, according to health websiteindexsante.ca.

Twenty patients were left on stretchers for more than 24 hours, while10 patients spent more than48 hours on them. A total of 52 stretchers were used atthe hospital.

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Meanwhile, emergency room overcrowding at theGatineauHospital left 41 patients on stretchers. Normally, that hospitalhas 28 functional stretchers, but on Monday theiroccupancy rate was 146 per cent.

In comparison, theSurotHospital inSalaberry-de-Valleyfieldhad a occupancy rate of 245 per cent, thehighest in province.

'Vicious cycle' fornurses

"We always anticipate, [at] this time of year, for there to be a greater number of patients," saidRoberto Bombaof the La Fdration interprofessionnelle de la sant duQubec, the unionrepresentingmost Quebec nurses.

Bombasaidflu and accidents related towinter weather often keep hospital admissions high, but hospitals aren't responding to the yearly trend with appropriate resources.

"[They] don't have any plans of actionto address these certain needs in terms of the population of the province of Quebec ... which leads to an overcrowding ... [and] leads to a delay in terms of wait times."

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As a result, Bombasaid, nurses are working longer hours, which is having a negative effect on their own health and wellbeing.

We're out of breath and we're exhausted.- Nancy Roy, GatineauHospital nurse

"It's a vicious cycle. You're forcing people to work overtime. They're fatigued. They're putting their health at risk. It's also very demanding cognitively."

Nancy Roy, who works in the emergency room at Gatineau Hospital, said the problem of overcrowding and long hourshas now become a year-round issue.

"[Nurses] feel as though they're being kept there as hostages to work and it's because the personnel is tired. We're out of breath and we're exhausted," she said.

Easing overcrowding

In January, QuebecHealth MinisterGatanBarretteannounced the province was spending$23 million annuallyonextra beds to ease the demand on emergency rooms.

Barrette said$5.7 million of this year's amount wouldbe invested before March 31.

The region's health authorityhas temporarily added eight beds at Hull Hospital and 12 at GatineauHospital in an effort to meet patientneeds.