Dr. believes. Abel currently has a denial of reality. As the population tries to return to some normal, health care workers are working to limit the impact on patient care, and not just those with COVID-19.

I understand that the steps are very unpopular and hard to accept, but we act as if COVID is gone. There is so much fatigue that we prefer not to think about it.

While his region was relatively saved by COVID-19, the effects of the pandemic are still being felt. He regularly observes collateral damage caused by pandemic: postponed operations, delayed important diagnostic procedures (colonoscopies, gastroscopies, colposcopies), canceled specialist doctor visits, etc.

He said he was frustrated, even desperate, that his patients would not get the care they needed because so many resources were directed at dealing with COVID-19. These people will suffer the effects of the pandemic without being infected.

Dr. also sees. Gilbert Boucher, president of the Association of Emergency Medicine Specialists of Quebec and emergency physician at the Montreal Heart Institute, the impact of this sixth wave on hospitals and especially on emergencies, is overflowing. We no longer have space to see patients. We had to ask the comrades to leave the emergency room because we no longer had room.

Dr. Hoang Duong, president of the Association of Internal Medicine Specialists of Quebec, is also concerned about this wave. The more people who consult for COVID-19, the fewer resources there are to treat other patients, he recalls.

On Wednesday, the province exceeded the threshold of 2,060 hospitals, a level not reached since mid -February; some establishments need to conduct load shedding. Added to this are the delays accumulated in the last waves.

So far, Dr. says. Abel, nothing is fair for all patients. He believes the government should better expose to the public the consequences of having thousands of infections a day so that they understand the seriousness of the situation. So that people can adapt their behaviors, reduce the impact of this wave, and help the health care system stay afloat.

For his part, Dr. believes. Amélie Boisclair, intensivist internist at Pierre-Le Gardeur Hospital, has been selected by the government undergo this sixth wave and it has not properly informed the public of its impact on the health care system.

” What bothers me is no longer a sense of urgency. There is a duplicate message. On the one hand, we hear that cases are rising, there is load shedding and the network is under tension. On the other hand, because we don’t want to displease the population, we say to ourselves: “Alas, the health personnel will take care of it.” “

Lack of staff, little care

If the network is under tension, says Dr. Jean Longtin, microbiologist and clinical expert in support of the Quebec Ministry of Health’s scientific pandemic management, at a press briefing on Wednesday, said it has the capacity. […] He can react. […] It is believed that tools are present to hold the system vertically.

For physicians, the reality on earth is somewhat different; health care workers are at the tip of their wisdom.

In fact, Dr. feels. Boisclair live a variation on the same theme for two years. Although the public experienced grievances between each wave, health care staff did not stop, hoping to make up for some of the delays caused by the pandemic. He believes the population does not see how fragile the health care system is and how tired the workers are.

Dr. agrees. Boucher. We are resilient, but it is very difficulthe said, noting that so far, nearly 13,000 network workers are out of work due to COVID-19.

Yes, healthcare facilities have improved their approach to managing COVID-19 over time, but according to Dr Duong, this adaptation has a limit. A patient with the disease, even if they do not have severe symptoms, needs more resources, he explains. We need to isolate, the longer the process, the more it moves. Ultimately, we will not be as efficient and we will not be able to provide much care to the population.

Thus, even though only 45% of admissions have COVID-19 as the primary cause, the pressure on nursing staff remains very strong.

When we reorganize care and workers to manage a new wave of COVID-19, it will be at the expense of other care, Drs. Boisclair.

Dr. wants. Duong that the population will show more solidarity with health workers, but also with patients and vulnerable people. I want people to think of these people. For some, this virus is still extremely dangerous. And some have been waiting for procedures for two years now. Every time we offload, that is, they wait even longerhe said.

Dr. said. Boisclair that he was disappointed that the government was not trying to mitigate the consequences of this wave. What is the best way to provide timely care? This is to control the COVIDhe reasoned, and added that the government should be less timid in its warnings to the public.

According to Dr. Duong, if everyone follows the basic instructions, it will be a very important benefit.