MUHC pledges to beef up Lachine Hospital services, reopen the ER
The Lachine Hospital will become a more robust community hospital, the McGill University Health Centre (MUHC) announced early Wednesday afternoon, with a fully functioning emergency room and more inpatient beds.
The decision comes a day after the National Assembly voted unanimously on a resolution stating the hospital's status should be upheld, and specialized services should be offered to the population.
The ER "will gradually reopen over the next few months to finally be able to receive walk-in patients and ambulances 24 hours a day, seven days a week," said the MUHC in a press release.
The Intensive Care Unit, however, will remain closed. The MUHC's rationale is that since the hospital is located a few kilometres from other hospitals with ICUs, patients can continue to be transferred to those institutions as they have been for more than a year.
The emergency room has repeatedly been closed overnight -- and the intensive care unit has been closed for years -- because of problems retaining essential staff.
There will be improvements made to the current 36-bed inpatient unit. Over the next 12 to 18 months it will be enlarged by 20 beds as additional staff, including family doctors, are recruited.
"This is excellent news and we’re still part of the MUHC family," Dr. Paul Saba told CTV News as he stood in front of the hospital shortly after he got word.
Saba, a family doctor there who has championed the community hospital for decades, is still unhappy that the intensive care unit will remain closed.
"It doesn’t have to be a full-service ICU like downtown, but even like a step-down unit where patients can be observed, taken care of and followed," he said.
NEW MANAGER TO BE NAMED IN COMING DAYS
Dr. Lucie Opatrny, the president and executive director of the MUHC, told CTV News the intention is to work on a project that is sustainable and long-term.
To help coordinate activities within the institution, Opatrny explained they will be naming an on-site manager in the coming days, "so that the decisions can be made locally and can be made quickly."
A $220-million modernization project at the hospital is expected to continue and the MUHC pledged to continue to develop the surgery, imaging and specialized medicine departments.
The MUHC's reversal came about after discussions with many stakeholders, it said, including with Quebec's health minister, Christian Dubé.
When asked about the decision, Opatrny characterized it as more of an evolution than a reversal.
"I really wouldn't say it's a 180. I think we have to see that Lachine has been in a fragile state as a small community hospital for more than 15 years and so it was important to take the time to say how and where are we going to rebuild," she said.
Activists, including the Committee to Save Lachine Hospital, citizens, and health-care workers have been fighting alongside Saba for all those years to reopen and maintain an array of services at the community health facility and went as a delegation to the legislature on Tuesday.
The Liberal MNA for Marquette, Enrico Ciccone, filed a petition in the National Assembly on Tuesday with 4,570 signatures supporting the establishment.
During question period that same day, Dubé said he had confidence in the managers on the ground to find a solution "and respect the essential role of the Lachine Hospital."
With files from CTV's Christine Long and Rob Lurie
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
India's foreign minister reacts to murder charges, claims Canada welcomes criminals
India's Foreign Affairs Minister accused Canada of welcoming criminals from his country in response to the RCMP's recent arrests in a homicide that has roiled tensions between the two countries.
15-year-old boy stabbed in Ottawa on Thursday dies
A 15-year old boy who was critically injured after a stabbing in Nepean on Thursday has died of his injuries, Ottawa's English public school board said Sunday.
Dash cam catches moment suspected drunk driver hits parked car, sends it careening into North Shore flower shop
Police say it’s fortunate no one was injured or killed in a collision at North Vancouver’s Park and Tilford shopping centre Saturday evening that sent one vehicle careening into a flower shop and another into a set of concrete barriers outside a Winners store.
'A tiny city:' Pro-Palestinian campus protesters organize for another week
Pro-Palestinian activists have set up tents at universities in Toronto, Ottawa, Vancouver and Montreal, following a wave of similar protests at campuses in the United States linked to the Israel-Hamas war.
Lawsuit against Meta asks if Facebook users have right to control their feeds using external tools
Do social media users have the right to control what they see — or don't see — on their feeds?
Princess Anne lays wreath at Battle of Atlantic ceremony; honours late Queen
Princess Anne saluted Canadian veterans and current forces members today during a ceremony at British Columbia's legislature cenotaph commemorating the Second World War's Battle of the Atlantic.
El Nino weakening doesn't mean cooler temperatures this summer, forecasters say
As Canadians brace themselves for summer temperatures, forecasters say a weakening El Nino cycle doesn’t mean relief from the heat.
As storms moves across Texas, 1 child dies after being swept away in floodwaters
A child in Texas died Sunday after being swept away in floodwaters as storms swept across the state.
Nylander defends Leafs' core after playoff exit, Toronto again picks up the pieces
The Maple Leafs battled back from a 3-1 series deficit against the Boston Bruins with consecutive 2-1 victories - including one that required extra time - in their first-round playoff series to push the club's Original Six rival to the limit before suffering a devastating Game 7 overtime loss.