[Gatineau] New Hospital | 600 beds

[J.OT13]

Le Droit 14 octobre 2020 0h12 / Mis à jour à 4h22

Justine Mercier
Mathieu Bélanger

Un nouvel hôpital de 600 lits en Outaouais

EXCLUSIF / Un hôpital flambant neuf de 600 lits sera construit en Outaouais, a appris Le Droit. Le ministre de la Santé du Québec, Christian Dubé, l’annoncera ce mercredi matin.

Le nouveau centre hospitalier affilié universitaire forcera une réorganisation majeure des soins de santé en Outaouais, au terme de laquelle la région aura fait un gain net de 240 lits de courte durée, soit 40% de plus que les 170 promis par la Coalition avenir Québec (CAQ). Selon nos informations, plus de 300 lits de courte durée feront donc l’objet d’un changement de vocation.

Cette révision en profondeur du réseau régional de la santé se fera sous forme de réorganisation et non de fermeture, a fait savoir une source gouvernementale.

Cette annonce survient un peu plus de deux ans après que la CAQ eut promis un nouvel hôpital de 170 lits en Outaouais et après de nombreuses spéculations sur la forme que cet engagement électoral allait prendre.

Le ministre de la Santé, Christian Dubé, et le ministre responsable de la région, Mathieu Lacombe, procéderont virtuellement à «une annonce importante concernant l’offre de soins et de services de santé» de la région, confirme une convocation de presse envoyée mardi.

Selon les informations obtenues par Le Droit, l’idée d’agrandir un hôpital existant, qui faisait partie des scénarios à l’étude, a donc été rejetée.

Avec 600 lits, le nouvel hôpital sera imposant. À titre comparatif, les hôpitaux de Hull et de Gatineau comptent chacun quelque 200 lits. Au total, le Centre intégré de santé et de services sociaux de l’Outaouais (CISSSO) en regroupe près de 800 dans ses centres hospitaliers.

Un dossier d’opportunité devra être élaboré pour recommander la meilleure option à long terme pour répondre aux besoins, a-t-il été possible d’apprendre. Le ministère de la Santé et le CISSSO travailleront en partenariat pour déterminer la vocation exacte du nouvel hôpital, tandis que la Société québécoise des infrastructures (SQI) collaborera au dossier d’opportunité.

Affiliation universitaire

L’ouverture récente de la faculté satellite de médecine de l’Université McGill en Outaouais permet au gouvernement d’opter pour un centre hospitalier affilié universitaire - un CHAU dans le jargon du milieu.

Alors que ses élus ont maintes fois affirmé que les gouvernements précédents avaient négligé l’Outaouais, la CAQ estime que le nouvel hôpital répondra aux besoins de la région. Le ministre Mathieu Lacombe avait assuré à plusieurs reprises que la population ne serait pas déçue.

Le gouvernement de François Legault espère aussi que cette nouvelle infrastructure aura un important pouvoir d’attraction pour les professionnels de la santé, dans un contexte où la proximité avec l’Ontario a toujours joué un rôle sur la pénurie de main-d’oeuvre observée en Outaouais.

Processus accéléré

Le ministre Dubé doit dévoiler davantage de détails mercredi, entre autres au sujet du budget prévu et de l’échéancier anticipé. Chose certaine, la CAQ souhaite accélérer le processus habituel, puisque l’ajout de «plus de 170 lits en milieu hospitalier» en Outaouais fait partie du projet de loi 66 «concernant l’accélération de certains projets d’infrastructure».

La présidente du Conseil du trésor, Sonia LeBel, avait indiqué, en présentant cette nouvelle mouture du défunt projet de loi 61, que des gains variant entre deux et 36 mois pourraient être réalisés pour les 181 projets visés.

Mathieu Lacombe avait admis, il y a quelques semaines, que la nouvelle infrastructure ne serait pas prête à recevoir des patients pour 2023, tel qu'initialement promis par son parti.

La présidente-directrice générale adjointe du CISSSO, France Dumont, avait pour sa part évoqué le besoin de mettre en place un plan de «transition» dans l'optique où le nouvel hôpital ne serait prêt que dans une dizaine d'années.

Le nouvel hôpital regroupera évidemment plusieurs spécialités médicales. Mme Dumont avait notamment indiqué au Droit que le projet de 32 chambres TARP (travail-accouchement-récupération-postpartum), promis en 2014 pour l'Hôpital de Gatineau, devrait finalement voir le jour dans le nouveau centre hospitalier.

https://www.ledroit.com/actualites/s...7d6549be20ad64

[Tesladom]

This news is HUGE for Outaouais.

There are 3 big impediments to living in Outaouais vs Ottawa
1) Health Care Sucks
2) Transportation to Ottawa (if you work in Ottawa)
3) Taxes for any family making over $100k+

Get a new east end bridge + new LRT and then I think Outaouais will boom

[J.OT13]

To sum it up, during the election campaign in 2018, the CAQ promised a new 170 bed hospital for Gatineau within 5 years.

Over the last two years, they've been studying different options, including an expansion of an existing hospital, which seemed to be the most likely scenario. Around the spring, the Minister responsible for the Outaouais, Mathieu Lacombe, enthusiastically said a big announcement was coming soon, but we didn't hear anything until late summer, when they said it likely be closer to 10 years.

So here we are now. This new 600 bed hospital, bigger than any single hospital campus in Ottawa, bed wise (General-569, Civic-549), but smaller than the planned new Civic (800-900). It will come with a major reorganization of the Outaouais' medical system. The existing Hull and Gatineau hospitals each have 200 beds, while the Buckingham hospital has 66 beds and the Outaouais has a total of 800. The region will have a net gain of 240 beds, 40% more than what was initially promised. According to a government source, 300 beds will "change vocation", meaning no shut-downs of any existing institution.

The government has not figured out the services that will be offered in the new hospital at this time, but it will be a teaching hospital and will include 32 labour/delivery/recuperation/post-partem beds.

[J.OT13]

I'm wondering where this new hospital could be built, and if they chose a site. Hull and Gatineau are fairly "well served" (and I use the term "well-served" lightly). I feel like Aylmer would need a medical facility to balance out the catchment area. That said, a 600 bed hospital, far larger than any other, might be better off located centrally.

If it's closer to Aylmer, I might place it on Allumetières between between Samuel-Edey and Vanier. Good highway(ish) access, good transit (close to the proposed tramway route), not too far from the centre of the city.

If it's in Hull, boulevard de la Carrière or the Guertin site.

I don't see it anywhere east of the Gatineau River since they already have two hospitals.

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by Tesladom

This news is HUGE for Outaouais.

There are 3 big impediments to living in Outaouais vs Ottawa
1) Health Care Sucks
2) Transportation to Ottawa (if you work in Ottawa)
3) Taxes for any family making over $100k+

Get a new east end bridge + new LRT and then I think Outaouais will boom

For sure, this and the Ottawa-Aylmer tramway will be a major boon for the Outaouais. This is the first time in history that the Québec Government is listening to and investing significantly in the region.

I don't agree with a lot of the CAQ's policies, but I have to commend them for stepping-up here in the Outaouais. Not that they have much choice, otherwise the population would go back to voting for the Liberals. If you're going to be neglected, better be neglected by the devil you know.

[FutureWickedCity]

The existing McGill campus is on La Venrendrye in the depths of Gatineau. I worry that this is yet another move to concentrate resources in that distant part of the city that few outsiders ever see.

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by FutureWickedCity

The existing McGill campus is on La Venrendrye in the depths of Gatineau. I worry that this is yet another move to concentrate resources in that distant part of the city that few outsiders ever see.

I live in the "depths of Gatineau" near that hospital on La Vérendrye.

I seriously doubt it will be going into this part of the city. They've said I think that existing facilities won't be decommissioned and the hospital here has undergone several add-ons and renovations in recent years. (Including a new wing for McGill which is not quite finished - but very close.)

There is some space (currently zoned for other uses) in the La Cité sector under development to the southeast of the hospital, but it's not logical to put a new hospital 1-2 km from an existing one that you are going to keep open.

My guess is that it will go somewhere in Hull, perhaps in the north-central part of the district.

It is true that Aylmer has no hospital but 600 beds at the western end of Gatineau with transportation issues to boot, is probably not happening. Plus if I am being cynical Aylmer (part of Pontiac riding) did not vote CAQ.

I'd be really surprised if they didn't pick a site somewhere in Hull, reasonably close to the main highways and also to the Rapibus. Boulevard de la Carrière (maybe that unused DND building?) is looking good.

[J.OT13]

Another possible location could be next to the UQO, where the soccer field is located. It would be at the intersection of the RapiBus, the Aylmer Tramway (should they chose the south alignment) and Trillium Line (if it ever crosses over the PoW). Highway access and the road network in general is poor, however.

[phil235]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

To sum it up, during the election campaign in 2018, the CAQ promised a new 170 bed hospital for Gatineau within 5 years.

This is great news for Gatineau and way overdue. Any guesses on location? It would be nice to see something in central Hull.

Edit: I'm late to the conversation. Guertin would be a good option, though transit is a challenge there.

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by phil235

This is great news for Gatineau and way overdue. Any guesses on location? It would be nice to see something in central Hull.

Edit: I'm late to the conversation. Guertin would be a good option, though transit is a challenge there.

Transit is a challenge there, but more easily "fixable" than somewhere along Allumettières in Aylmer.

[phil235]

Originally Posted by Acajack

Transit is a challenge there, but more easily "fixable" than somewhere along Allumettières in Aylmer.

No doubt. I can't see Aylmer as being the choice, but something near the UQO campus might work.

[Acajack]

Another guess is that the existing hospital in Hull, which is rather decrepit, will be converted into a tertiary (?) hospital, perhaps similar to the St. Vincent or the Perley in Ottawa.

This would pave the way for a new super-regional hospital somewhere in the Hull sector which is the most central to the wider city of Gatineau.

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by Acajack

Another guess is that the existing hospital in Hull, which is rather decrepit, will be converted into a tertiary (?) hospital, perhaps similar to the St. Vincent or the Perley in Ottawa.

This would pave the way for a new super-regional hospital somewhere in the Hull sector which is the most central to the wider city of Gatineau.

That would make a lot of sense. The Hull Hospital needs extensive renovations, and it might be cheaper to do so as a tertiary site than a primary care hospital.

Update on the story: the health minister hopes to deliver more detail within 12 to 18 months, such as a cost, location and completion date. The Government hopes that a new hospital will help attract more health care professionals.

https://ici.radio-canada.ca/nouvelle...ce-soins-sante

[Acajack]

It's been pointed out in social media that the last hospital built in Gatineau was the Gatineau hospital by the Parti Québécois in 1981. (Yes, we had PQ members here at the time.)

This next hospital if it materializes will be built by the CAQ, but in almost or over 40 years of having exclusively Liberal (PLQ) reps in Quebec City, the region got goose eggs even when the problems were clearly critical.

[rocketphish]

New 'mega-hospital' coming to Gatineau, province says
Quebec government has yet to release cost, location or completion date

CBC News
Posted: Oct 14, 2020 5:41 PM ET | Last Updated: 1 hour ago

The Quebec government is planning to build a nearly 600-bed "mega-hospital" in Gatineau, the province's health minister announced Wednesday.

The announcement follows an election promise by Coalition Avenir Québec to add 170 beds to the Outaouais region. After some "reorganization" — presumably the absorption of hundreds of existing beds in other hospitals — the government says the new hospital will result in an additional 240 beds for the Outaouais.

Describing the new facility as a "mega-hospital," Quebec Health Minister Christian Dubé said it would be affiliated with a university.

It's still not clear how much the hospital will cost, where it will be located or when construction will be completed. Dubé said he hopes to have those questions answered within a year to 18 months.

Western Quebec's health-care system is currently facing a serious staff shortage, resulting in protests and temporary closures earlier this year.

Patrick Guay, president of the health-care union Syndicat des professionnels en soins de l'Outaouais, said he doesn't see how a new mega hospital can open without more staff.

Mathieu Lacombe, the minister responsible for the Outaouais, said the new facility will attract workers.

"We are going to have health-care environments that are going to be much more modern, that are going to be innovative and that are going to be better designed to meet the real needs of the community," he said in French during a virtual news conference.

With Ontario — and typically, better working conditions — right across the Ottawa River in Ontario, attracting and retaining doctors, nurses and other staff has been a long-standing issue in the western Quebec.

with files from Radio-Canada

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottaw...neau-1.5762251

[CityTech]

They're going to have a hard time hiring staff to run the place if they don't boost wages. From what I gather the real reason why Gatineau has such shit health care is because health care workers all opt to work in Ottawa because the pay is higher.

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by CityTech

They're going to have a hard time hiring staff to run the place if they don't boost wages. From what I gather the real reason why Gatineau has such shit health care is because health care workers all opt to work in Ottawa because the pay is higher.

At least for doctors that has not been the case since Gaëtan Barrette gave them a big raise. He was a doctor as was the Premier.

[Harley613]

It's pretty safe to say this won't be built in Gatineau proper or anywhere on that side of the Gatineau river. I would guess it will be built along Pink/Vanier/Allumettieres. It makes me wonder about the Boucher Forest. The community has been asking for protection for the forest for years without any firm commitment from the municipality. A parcel on the Northwest corner of the Vanier/Allumettieres intersection would be an excellent spot for the hospital and is slated for tram service. Allumettieres gets you on the 5 in 8 minutes and downtown in under ten minutes. Also the parcel I highlighted does not cross any of the trails in the forest.

Hospital by harley613, on Flickr

[YOWetal]

Originally Posted by Acajack

At least for doctors that has not been the case since Gaëtan Barrette gave them a big raise. He was a doctor as was the Premier.

Doctor salaries are still substantially lower across the board than Ontario. But yes they have converged somewhat and in Gatineau the tax differential is not important as that is based on place of residence rather than work. (as opposed to moving Toronto to Montreal for example)

So this is interesting news also for the Ottawa side. Gatineau residents are big users of the Ottawa hospitals so this will increase capacity in effect in Ottawa also. While lots of people complain about the cross-border users I wonder what the budgetary impact will be for Ottawa.

[kwoldtimer]

Originally Posted by YOWetal

Doctor salaries are still substantially lower across the board than Ontario. But yes they have converged somewhat and in Gatineau the tax differential is not important as that is based on place of residence rather than work. (as opposed to moving Toronto to Montreal for example)

So this is interesting news also for the Ottawa side. Gatineau residents are big users of the Ottawa hospitals so this will increase capacity in effect in Ottawa also. While lots of people complain about the cross-border users I wonder what the budgetary impact will be for Ottawa.

Will it? Do Gatineau residents use Ottawa hospitals for want of beds or for want of services (or a combination of both)?