Covid-19 in Quebec: new measures to address the lack of nurses in the hospital
Quebec Premier François Legault in a vaccination center in Montreal, June 21, 2021. AP - Paul Chiasson
Text by: RFI Follow
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Quebec is facing a chronic lack of available nurses, which is forcing several hospitals to postpone operations, or even to close emergency rooms, both in rural areas and in cities.
The current pandemic has further accelerated the movement and the government announced on September 23 a series of measures to rectify the situation.
Nearly 700 million additional euros will be paid in bonuses to nurses to encourage them to work full time and stay in the public network.
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With our correspondent in Montreal,
Pascale Guéricolas
“
We need you guys.
Quebecers need you.
Prime Minister François Legault launches this appeal to nurses to work full time in hospitals.
There are currently over 4,000 missing from the public network.
A large number of them left the ship, tired of having to string together successive services to make up for the lack of personnel.
To those who choose a full-time position, the government promises a bonus of 11,000 euros per year.
A necessary investment, according to the Prime Minister: “
The nurses have taken care of us for a long time.
It is time today that we take care of our nurses in our turn.
"
"No timeline"
The government is also planning to hire administrative staff to relieve nurses of clerical duties and is asking hospitals to provide them with better working hours.
Promises that Vincent Marissal, elected from the opposition, considers too vague: "
There is no deadline, we come back to 'We'll see', and we say to the nurses: 'Please come back, I will change.
”
As for its nurses unions, they are skeptical about the effectiveness of these measures.
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Read also: Coronavirus in Canada: cascading resignations among nurses in Quebec
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