Vaudreuil-Soulanges Hospital: a hiring project as important as its construction

With a budget of $2.6 billion, the new hospital in western Montérégie is one of the largest construction projects in Canada.

During a visit to the site on Wednesday, the CEO of the CISSS de la Montérégie-Ouest, Philippe Gribauval, did not hide his enthusiasm.

It’s progressing quickly! we are confident of welcoming our first patients in December 2026. We have a responsibility, the population has been waiting a long time.

With 404 hospitalization beds, 11 operating rooms, around forty stretchers in the emergency room, this new hospital should meet long-standing needs in the region.

During a meeting in 2022, the prefect of the MRC Vaudreuil-Soulanges, Patrick Bousez, estimated that % to 40% of the population seeks care in Ontario”,”text”:”easily 30% to 40% of the population seeks care in Ontario”}}”>easily 30% to 40% of the population seeks care in Ontario.

When we arrive at the Suroît hospital which is overflowing, at the Lakeshore which is overflowing, at Anna-Laberge which is overflowing, then we have no other alternatives, and unfortunately it is a recurring problem.said Patrick Bousez, who is also mayor of Rivière-Beaudette.

Each year, nearly 80,000 patients go to the emergency rooms of the region’s two hospitals where the average length of stay far exceeds the Quebec average of 17.5 hours on a stretcher.

According to a compilation by Radio-Canada, approximately 73,000 patients from Montérégie went to Ontario over a period of 5 years to obtain care, particularly in Hawkesbury.

For all of Quebec, nearly a billion dollars was paid to Ontario for health care provided to Quebec patients from 2017 to 2021.

3,500 employees to recruit, 800 positions posted

At the CISSS, management is aware of the workforce challenge linked to the opening of the new hospital in 30 months.

It’s a huge challenge, I’ve never denied that, on the contrary, but we’re going to meet it […] we will find them, this workforce.

positions for the new hospital […] but in the meantime, people will have to work shifts in current hospitals”,”text”:”We already have 800 positions for the new hospital […] but in the meantime, people will have to work shifts in current hospitals”}}”>We have already posted 800 positions for the new hospital […] but in the meantime, people will have to work shifts in current hospitalsexplains Mr. Gribeauval.

According to CISSS documents, full-time jobs (ETC) for a salary budget of around 300M$”,”text”:”It is expected that the Vaudreuil-Soulanges hospital will employ some 3,500 full-time jobs (FTE) for a salary budget of around $300M”}}”>It is expected that the Vaudreuil-Soulanges hospital will employ some 3,500 full-time jobs (FTE) for a salary budget of around $300 million.we can read in a plan filed in Quebec. %, or 180M$ of payroll.”,”text”:”However, when the HVS (Vaudreuil-Soulanges hospital) opens, we estimate that activities will be at 60%, or $180M of payroll.”}} “>However, when the HVS (Vaudreuil-Soulanges hospital) opens, we estimate that activities will be at 60%, or $180 million in payroll.

A challenge all the more important since the CISSS de la Montérégie-Ouest is one of the four health establishments from which the Ministry of Health has requested a plan to return to budget balance (New window). The anticipated deficit exceeds $160 million.

On paper, the CISSS expects to save nearly $60 million in 2024-2025 by applying the maximum hourly rates for the independent workforce. An uncertain exercise due to the conditions of the decree (rates, travel costs, hotels, etc.).