Members of Quebec's nurses union protested Monday outside an eldercare centre they say is understaffed.
Half a dozen orderly positions were cut at the Denis Benjamin Viger Centre on Ile Bizard earlier this year, and staff say the result has been a mess.
They say since the layoffs, some floors no longer have orderlies working overnight, and that is affecting the quality of care for the 125 residents.
"They're not put to sleep before 11:30 at night. Some of them are not washed. There's an increase [in the use] of creams because they have fungus," said Elizabeth Rich, a nurse at the facility.
Nurses said in some cases, orderlies have only minutes to help feed patients who need assistance, and as a result some patients have lost significant amounts of weight.
There are now 43 employees at the Denis Benjamin Viger Centre, including nurses and orderlies, which nurses say is not enough.
"We're asking for more personnel, and also for the employer to listen to us. Right now they decide and we have to do it," said Rich.
She said the extra work, and the complaints from employees, are creating an air of hostility.
"It's threats if we don't or if we decide to try to do something about it," said Rich.
The Centre's management disagrees with the union's claims, and said the goal is to become more efficient as the needs of the patients changes.
Patrick Murphy Lavallée is expected to say more about the dispute later in the day.
