Lack of a doctor jeopardizes treatment for Anglophones grappling with addiction problems

LONGUEUIL, QC, May 28, 2018 /CNW Telbec/ - The English addiction rehabilitation centre, CRD Foster, which is associated with the Centre intégré en santé et services sociaux de la Montérégie-Ouest (CISSSMO), will no longer have a doctor as of the end of August 2018. A number of cases involving withdrawal treatment require the presence of a physician under the protocols for administering the necessary medication. CRD Foster's partners have consequently been notified that the Centre de Saint-Philippe de Laprairie will no longer be able to receive cases requiring a medical presence.

"The situation has major consequences for the English population, and for the regional health and social services network. This clientele will be deprived of services designed to meet their needs and will force personnel to refer them to hospitals in the region. That runs directly counter to efforts to reduce overcrowding in emergency rooms, which the MSSS has promised to do," decried Francis Collin, provincial union representative for the APTS (Alliance du personnel professionnel et technique de la santé et des services sociaux) in Montérégie-Ouest.

Employees are afraid that those who experience severe withdrawal symptoms won't have access to the appropriate medical resources. "It's not a rare thing to have individuals come in who are highly motivated and determined to regain control over their lives, but without medical support. As things stand, employees won't be able to properly accompany them in that process, which is often very difficult. It's more than a little concerning," added the union spokesperson.

Questioned by employees on March 23 about possible solutions to address the problem, the Board of Directors and the President and Executive Director of the CISSSMO responded in a letter dated April 20, stating that all efforts were being made with the bodies concerned, to supply CRD Foster with a doctor.  So far, however, there is no ray of hope on the horizon. "It's hard to account for the CISSSMO's lack of commitment toward CRD Foster, as that's the only public addiction rehabilitation centre for the English-speaking population in Québec," Francis Collin pointed out.

Since a doctor resigned in June 2017, the long-term presence of a physician is no longer assured at CRD Foster. The first doctor recruited in September 2017 gave notice as soon as he started working, that he would only be available until December 23. Another physician who held the position on a part-time basis stated right away that he would be leaving that summer.

In periods where no physician was present, personnel took exceptional steps to ensure access to services in a secure residential setting. Provisions were made to ensure that those in residential treatment had access to the required medication when they stopped using the substances to which they were addicted, for the duration of their stay. This way of doing things nonetheless contravenes the requirements of the Québec College of Physicians, and employees were informed that it would no longer be tolerated.  

The APTS

With its 55,000 members, the APTS is an indispensable public-sector union in health and social services. It represents professionals and technicians in over a hundred job titles, in diagnostic services, rehabilitation, nutrition, psychosocial intervention, clinical support and prevention services. In Montérégie-Ouest, it represents 2,700 members.

SOURCE Alliance du personnel professionnel et technique de la santé et des services sociaux (APTS)

Francis Collin, APTS political officer for Montérégie-Ouest, Tel.: [phone]