Medical imaging bonuses: rural technicians apply in Hull and Gatineau

What many health care workers feared following the announcements of incentive bonuses for medical imaging technologists at hospitals in Hull, Gatineau, Papineau and Maniwaki is now happening.

Over the past month, 9 out of 12 technologists currently working in the outskirts of Gatineau have applied for jobs in hospitals in Gatineau and Hull, according to reports from the Integrated Health and Social Services Centre (CISSS) of Outaouais.

A few weeks ago, the Quebec government announced financial incentives of up to $22,000 for medical imaging technologists at the Hull, Gatineau and Papineau hospitals and bonuses of up to $18,000 for technologists at the Maniwaki Hospital, with the Shawville and Wakefield regions being excluded from the measure.

This strategy, which aims to avoid an exodus of these workers to Ontario, sabotages the operation of establishments in rural areas of Outaouais according to the general director of the Fondation Santé Gatineau and spokesperson for the SOS Outaouais coalition, Jean Pigeon.

It is very worrying to see that we are creating an exodus from our region.

We have said from the start, it took bonuses accessible to all to avoid this situation, to avoid the exodusinsists Mr. Pigeon, who even goes so far as to describe the situation alarming.

The latter reminds us that without, or with few, medical imaging technologists on duty, certain diagnoses are not possible.

If we have an emergency, a matter of life and death, what happens when we don’t have the diagnostic tools? Are our doctors going to have to treat blindly? We don’t want those risks and we don’t want to have deaths on our hands either.he is indignant.

A result predictable

Spokesperson for the citizens’ group La Voix du Pontiac, Josey Bouchard says she is disappointed with the situation, even if it was predictable.

We cannot assume that people will accept being treated as second and third-rate employees because we decide that some deserve a retention bonus and others deserve a […] they don’t deserve a retention bonusshe takes offense.

If people start moving around a lot like this, it’s going to be hell for the quality of services and the continuity of services. […] You know, sometimes we feel like crying when we look at the current situation.

Ms. Bouchard fears that the situation will be disastrous for the rural regions of Outaouais. I find it disgusting. It’s disgusting to treat people like thatshe says.

The latter appeals to the government. The government must act, must establish that retention bonuses are identical, no matter where you are in Outaouais.

Local services

The prefect of the MRC from Collines-de-l’Outaouais, Marc Carrière, shares Ms. Bouchard’s disappointment.

We are heading towards service disruptionshe fears. It is clear that citizens are worried. They care about their services and health services are local services, so it is important to resolve the situation.

Quebec Health Minister Christian Dubé was not available Friday to comment on the situation. However, he returned the ball to the office of the President of the Treasury Board, Sonia LeBel, who ensures in a statement to follow pay attention to the evolution of the situation in Outaouais.

The government will remain on the lookout for issues in the region and will act accordinglywrites Ms. LeBel’s office.

In a written response sent to Radio-Canada on Friday, the CISSS of Outaouais, for his part, reiterated that The bonuses awarded to technologists at hospitals in Hull, Gatineau, Papineau and Maniwaki are important tools to help stabilize resources in the short term.

CISSS de l’Outaouais is working proactively to maintain quality and access to care despite its staffing issues. A committee is still in place to monitor the impact of bonuses on imaging staff and take action as needed”,”text”:”The CISSS de l’Outaouais is working proactively to maintain quality and access to care despite its staffing issues. A committee is still in place to monitor the impact of bonuses on imaging staff and take action as needed”}}”>The CISSS de l’Outaouais is working proactively to maintain quality and access to care despite its staffing issues. A committee is still in place to monitor the impact of bonuses on imaging staff and take action as needed.continues the communications and media relations advisor at CISSS from Outaouais, Camille Brochu-Lafrance.

As for her, the national representative for the Alliance of Professional and Technical Personnel in Health and Social Services (APTS), Christine Prégent, says she is keeping the channels of communication wide open with the government. It is obvious to us that we will have to react, initiate discussions because the population cannot remain suffering like that.she says.

With information from Anne-Charlotte Carignon and Rémi Authier