Labour shortage affecting access to health care in Abitibi-Temiscamingue
Quebec's labour shortage is creating difficulties in access to health care in Abitibi-Témiscamingue, according to a study published Thursday by the Institut de recherche et d'informations socioéconomiques (IRIS).
Over the past year, the region's health care institutions have experienced numerous service disruptions.
Most notably, the Témiscaming-Kipawa emergency room had to close during evenings and nights for the summer; it reopened last Friday.
According to the study, a lack of health care personnel is the region's leading cause of health care access problems.
"We already know that the average number of nurses and medical specialists in Quebec is insufficient to meet the needs of the population," explains Bertrand Schepper, researcher at IRIS and co-author of the study. "The fact that this number is lower in Abitibi-Témiscamingue is even more problematic given the size of the territory to be covered."
Data compiled by IRIS show that there are 2.7 nurses and nursing assistants per 1,000 inhabitants in Abitibi-Témiscamingue, compared to 3.4 in Quebec.
The number of general practitioners is slightly below that of the province: 1.2 per 1,000 inhabitants, compared to 1.3.
The study also notes that many residents travel to Ontario for treatment -- about 2,400 had to do so in 2019.
"Whether it is the repeated interruption of services or the long wait times to consult a specialist, the problems of access to health care in Abitibi-Témiscamingue precede the pandemic," said Krystof Beaucaire, associate researcher at IRIS and co-author of the study. "In addition to forcing many residents to travel hundreds of kilometres to major hospitals, this may also prompt others to forego certain types of care."
The authors point out that the region has particular challenges related to its demographic and geographic characteristics.
Life expectancy in Abitibi-Témiscamingue is notably lower than in the rest of Quebec, at 78.6 years for men and 82.4 years for women, according to the Institut de la statistique du Québec.
Only residents of the Nord-du-Québec have a lower life expectancy.
"The issues arising from the aging of the population are felt more strongly in Abitibi-Témiscamingue, which has a smaller working-age population than the rest of Quebec," said Beaucaire. "To serve a small population spread over a large territory, Abitibi-Témiscamingue needs more of facilities like CLSCs."
He notes that the region serves as a service corridor for residents of the Nord-du-Québec.
Hospitals in Val-d'Or and Amos receive 5.1 per cent and 3.5 per cent of patients from the Nord-du-Québec, respectively.
Essentially, lack of access to primary care and family physicians impacts emergency rooms.
In Abitibi-Témiscamingue, 72 per cent of emergency room visits are made up of people who need primary care, compared to 53 per cent on average in Quebec.
-- This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on Sept. 22, 2022.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
PWHL Minnesota defeats Boston to win inaugural Walter Cup
Minnesota won the inaugural championship of the Professional Women’s Hockey League on Wednesday night, getting 17 saves from Nicole Hensley to beat Boston 3-0 in a winner-take-all Game 5 and claim the Walter Cup.
Canadians are eyeing moves to these cities for more affordable housing
Faced with elevated housing prices, half of Canadians in the country's largest cities are considering moving to places with more affordable housing.
B.C. mortgage broker ran $270-million Ponzi scheme, then fled Canada, bankruptcy trustee says
The trustee appointed to manage the bankruptcies of a Victoria mortgage company and its owner has concluded that they committed "numerous offences" and operated as a "massive Ponzi scheme."
Edmonton Oilers set to make lineup changes for Game 4 of Western Conference final
The Edmonton Oilers are shaking things up. Down 2-1 in the NHL's Western Conference final to the Dallas Stars, head coach Kris Knoblauch confirmed there would be lineup changes for tonight's Game 4.
McDonald's says $18 Big Mac meal was an 'exception' and their prices haven't risen that much
McDonald’s is fighting back against viral tweets and media reports that it says have exaggerated its price increases.
'Targeted again': Montreal police investigate after gunshot fired at Jewish school
Police are investigating another building in Montreal's community was struck by gunfire.
Tessa Virtue reveals she's expecting her first child. Here's what Canadians had to say
Canadian figure-skating icon Tessa Virtue is expecting her first child, she revealed via social media Tuesday.
Poilievre says Canadians 'fleeing' to Nicaragua, Liberals say it shows he 'doesn't have a clue'
Liberal parliamentarians are criticizing Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre over a new video in which he promotes the idea that some Canadians are 'fleeing' Canada to live in Nicaragua because they can't afford a house in this country.
'Do not drive': Nissan warns Canadian drivers of explosion risk impacting 48,000 vehicles
Car manufacturer Nissan has issued a do-not-drive warning for some older vehicles equipped with Takata airbag inflators, due to the risk of explosion during a crash.