Pressure remains significant in Quebec’s emergency rooms, particularly in the greater Montreal area, and it is not about to subside due to flu activity, which is on the rise.
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“Historically, between now and the end of January and the beginning of February, we will enter more critical weeks in terms of the number of people who have flu-like symptoms and who will present themselves to the emergency room,” warned Frédéric Abergel, executive vice-president of operations and transformation at Santé Québec, Friday morning.
According to the situation presented by the new state corporation, the effects are particularly felt in the “450” regions, that is to say Laval, Lanaudière, the Laurentides and Montérégie, where the rate of Stretcher occupancy reached 142% in the period from December 31 to January 13.
In Montreal, this rate is 138% while the Quebec average is 121%.
The index from the National Institute of Public Health of Quebec indicates that influenza activity remains moderate, but with an upward trend, said Mr. Abergel.
“Hospitals remain under pressure this week as we approach [du] heart of the winter period,” he declared.
Better than a year ago
Santé Québec believes that there is still good news in this report, because overall the indicators are more favorable than at the same date last year.
-Over one year, the occupancy rate of stretchers in Quebec fell by 5%, except in Montreal where it increased by 1%.
As for the average length of stay on a stretcher in the emergency room, it stands at 18.6 hours in Quebec. This is a gain of 1.5 hours over the past year, insisted Mr. Abergel.
“In Montreal and in the “450”, hospital congestion, therefore not just in the emergency room, but also in the care units, on the floors, is explained in particular by the increase in the population and its aging,” maintains -he.
Budgetary rigor
Concerning the “budgetary rigor” sought in the health network, the vice-president ensures that the objective is to have the least impact on services to the population.
“We are really in the process of ensuring that we better distribute our human resources, particularly for weekends. So in several places, we are asking people to go [travailler] on weekends,” he said.
Frédéric Abergel reminded that it is “never too late” to receive the flu and COVID-19 vaccine. Santé Québec invites you to consider options other than emergency if your condition allows it, such as Info-Santé, your CLSC or your family doctor.
In addition, pharmacists are able to treat several common conditions such as the flu, COVID, symptoms of gastroenteritis and, under certain conditions, urinary tract infection in women and shingles, said Benoit Morin, president of the Quebec Association of Pharmacist Owners.
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