Record Staff
On Wednesday, Quebec Health Minister Christian Dubé announced the province will be reducing emergency services this summer, including the emergency clinic in Windsor and the emergency room at Coaticook Hospital, due to staffing shortages.
In a press release, the CIUSSS de l’Estrie – CHUS noted the clinic will remain accessible for minor health problems. It is currently open five days a week, from Monday to Friday, between 8:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. However, the clinic will be open seven days a week in the fall.
The Windsor emergency clinic is listed as a resource for the guichet d’accès à la première ligne (GAP Estrie). The local health authority has also informed the public that the Coaticook Hospital emergency room will be in operation for 10 hours a day throughout the summer.
But starting Sept. 12, the emergency room services will jump to 12 hours a day, from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., seven days a week, to meet the needs of the local population. The Coaticook Hospital is also dedicated to responding to minor emergencies, the CIUSSS continued.
According to the local health authority, obstetrics and surgical services will be maintained in the region for the summer. However, the priority is to allow staff to take advantage of their holiday time. With that being said, though, no type of surgery is currently suspended.
The CIUSSS de l’Estrie – CHUS said it will pay close attention to waiting lists, including medical re-evaluations, and prioritize based on the level of urgency. There are also four agreements in place with three specialized medical clinics to perform surgeries outside of CIUSSS facilities.
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