Improvised, accounting reorganization at the CISSS de l’Abitibi-Témiscamingue: the FIQ announces the creation of a Coalition régionale en santé et services sociaux (Coalition in health and social services)
The president and secretary of the Fédération interprofessionnelle de la santé du Québec–FIQ, Régine Laurent and Marie-Claude Ouellet, joined by representatives from the Syndicat interprofessionnel en soins de santé de l’Abitibi-Témiscamingue (FIQ-SISSAT) and from 27 organizations from all settings (community, municipal, union, economic, education, health), announced today the creation of a Coalition régionale en santé et services sociaux for preserving quality and proximity care in the region.
The members of the Coalition met to discuss the alarming situation that presently exists at the CISSS de l’Abitibi-Témiscamingue (CISSSAT). “I am very happy that a large number of organizations positively responded to our invitation. We have had some interesting discussions on our concerns about the reorganization of the health care and services organized by the CISSSAT which was clearly done hastily and under the cover of an optimal accounting of care”, stated the Secretary of the FIQ and political officer for the region, Marie-Claude Ouellet.
Nancy Moore, Vice-President of the SISSAT, strongly condemned, “The situation doesn’t make sense at this time when the CISSSAT is closing beds and cutting positions without ensuring the continuity of the health care and services offered to the patients. However, the needs of the patients and population are rising. We have decided to create a coalition and act together to make sure that the changes at the CISSSAT, which are nothing more than an order for budget cuts from Minister Barrette, are not done on the backs of the patients”.
Have Luc Blanchette and Guy Bourgeois abandoned the people?
Régine Laurent continued with, “We have a lot of questions on the inaction of the regional minister and the MNA for Abitibi-Est, Luc Blanchette and Guy Bourgeois. They have chosen to defend their Minister of health rather than defend the citizens of Abitibi-Témiscamingue. This oddly feels like groveling. While it is swimming in budget surpluses, the Liberal government has deliberately decided to sacrifice the patients in the region”.
All the groups and organizations in attendance talked about the disastrous impacts of the liberal cutbacks in health in the Abitibi-Témiscamingue region. “The cutbacks affect the patients, they weaken the regional economy, suffocate the community groups, penalize the more vulnerable, isolate the small municipalities and compromise the personnel’s work. Ministers Barrette and Blanchette, have managed to hit everyone at the same time” concluded the president of the FIQ.