Canadian Medical Care Further Erodes at Home
A Montreal, Quebec Canada may be well forced to shut down almost 25 per cent of its beds. In the past number of years, nearly half the doctors there — 25 of them– have resigned as a result of difficult working conditions, but only several have been hired as replacements.
“ Doctors are said to be working extra long shifts and overtime to provide medical care. “This cannot go on for long without a reduction of the standards of medical care and expertise†states the hospital administration. The hospital will need in order of 20 to 30 doctors to keep this regional center open. Doctors as if seems are in overall short supply.
The Montreal area hospital has had to reduce its level of service to the community at large. Service was reduced in order that the remaining doctors would only have to “work 12 hours or less a day, if possible,” he said.
The impact of the hospital’s decision to close the beds as of Friday is yet unclear.
“There might be longer waits in the emergency room for the patients, as well some of the ambulances may have to be rerouted to other hospitals which, for some patients, might mean being further away from home,” Keyway said.
But while some people at the hospital say it’s frustrating that the beds must close, they understand the reasoning.
“You can’t push staff beyond their reach either … if closing 30 beds allows them to give safe care, it’s too bad, but I guess that’s the way it has to be done,” one woman told CTV Montreal.
The beds might be closed at the hospital for as long as a year.