Paul-Émile Thibault has worked and volunteered in the healthcare network throughout his career.
In the wake of the resignations of four heads of departments of the CIUSSS de l'Estrie-CHUS, some of whom have harshly criticized the administration, now a long-time volunteer has decided to slam the door. of the Fondation du Center de santé et de services sociaux (CSSS) de la MRC-de-Coaticook, where he was treasurer for almost 40 years. He says he is worried about the health network.
Paul-Émile Thibault has worked and been involved as a volunteer in the network throughout his career. At the beginning of May, he decided to leave the Foundation to denounce the closure of 28 beds in the Albert-Samson pavilion, a floor that serves as a residential and long-term care center (CHSLD) at the x27; Coaticook Hospital.
Patients in this wing will have the option of moving to another pavilion in the hospital or to the new Seniors' House, which is currently under construction.
Closing beds is one of the reasons that prompted Paul-Émile Thibault to resign. However, he also denounces the loss of services in Coaticook, including the emergency room, which is no longer open 24 hours a day. He says he fears the closure of other services.
I, for 38 years, have been treasurer of the Foundation. I'm the only founding member and then I decided to retire on May 1st given the circumstances of everything going on in the healthcare system. The reason has nothing to do with the Foundation, I respect the Foundation then it's going very well, but around the Foundation, it's our health system that is sick, then before being sick, I decided to let go, he argues.
We renovated two palliative care rooms in the past, two beautiful rooms. Those two rooms are going to be abandoned because it's on the same floor as the 28 beds that we're abandoning. They will probably transfer them elsewhere. These are all things that are done backwards. Why are we not consulted? he adds.
Being there all those years, he still saw things that left our Coaticook Hospital. There have been departments that have been closed, there have been many changes over the years. […] It is sure that for him, it is another loss. It should perhaps be seen a little more positively, on the other hand. We still have a facility that is new, which will be recent across the street, which will make up for something that was very outdated at the hospital level, however, maintains the president of the CSSS Foundation of the MRC-de-Coaticook, Vicky Desorcy.
The closure of the 28 beds had been planned since 2020, when Quebec unveiled the Coaticook Seniors' House project. However, this announcement materialized recently, as the new establishment is due to open next year.
The Coaticook Seniors' Center is under construction, and should open its doors next year.
Contacted by Radio-Canada, the CIUSSS de l'Estrie – CHUS explained that the Albert-Samson pavilion has become obsolete and no longer meets accommodation standards. It must be renovated once the patients are relocated.
Although there, we are going to close a floor to move the world, if it is to rebuild better, better fit out, put 4.0 or 5.0, I think you have to give yourself the time to do it. We can't do it when patients are there. It goes from changing the door frames, to going all the way to the wall, to going all the way to the air system. We can't do it when there are customers, patients. If it is to do that, I am very open, advances the mayor of Coaticook, Simon Madore.
The mayor, Paul-Émile Thibault and Vicky Desorcy also agree on one point: the CIUSSS should appoint a local manager in Coaticook, to give more power and #x27;information for healthcare personnel.
With information from Marion Bérubé
