Lack of doctors in Hochelaga-Maisonneuve

Photo Antoine Lacroix
Rendered breathless, dr. Ghislaine Roederer, ensures the follow-up of more than 800 patients in the East of Montreal.

Antoine Lacroix

Sunday, 22 October, 2017 08:00

UPDATE
Sunday, 22 October, 2017 08:00

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A doctor who follows 800 patients in Hochelaga-Maisonneuve continues to take it, due to the lack of doctors in the district.

“I do what I can. I am very tired and I know I could crack one day to the other. We need to act, the needs are urgent, here “, says Ghislaine Roederer, a doctor at the medical Clinic, Joliette, who follows in all 1500 people in Montreal.

At the age of 62, Ghislaine Roederer is out of breath and should even work on the weekend to see as many people as possible.

At this time, seven doctors covering the territory of Hochelaga-Maisonneuve. In 2018, if nothing is done, they will not be more than four to treat a population of more than 56 000 people.

Only two of them will make the ” no appointment “, Mrs. Roederer, deplores the member of parliament for the area, Carole Poirier.

“You go through a medical desert, there is almost nobody to deal with the population, here. They must all turn to the emergency room, which are crowded. Fifty-five percent of the neighbourhood’s population does not have access to a family doctor “, she says.

Ms. Poirier has presented this week to the national Assembly a petition containing over 8700 names to claim more than doctors.

Photo Antoine Lacroix

Carole Poirier, Member For Hochelaga-Maisonneuve

Needs

The population of Hochelaga-Maisonneuve is “glaring needs” and is not the most easy to deal with, should Ghislaine Roederer.

“We are doctors to help people, and not for the treatment of people who are already in health. Yes, this is not the population that is most healthy. We should not be afraid of them. It is rewarding, to work there, ” says the general practitioner.

But she admits, it is his sense of duty towards these people who want to stay in.

“I could drop everything and go to the place where it is easy. But who would take care of them ? I have more patients than I have to. Every time I am without an appointment, I decided to follow a few, because they are sick, ” she says.

It invites the many doctors in Montreal to “do their part” and to come and care for the people of Hochelaga-Maisonneuve.

“We could do a rotation, if necessary, but it really takes doctors. And this is not ignoring the problem that there is not as much “, she says.

Eight doctors

Called upon to respond, the minister of Health Gaétan Barrette to admit that the situation is problematic, but believes that it is in the process of improving.

“It has restricted the rules for the allocation of positions where there are needs. […] It was intended that eight doctors were going to settle in Hochelaga-Maisonneuve “, he says, specifying that they must begin to practice in a period of ” 0 to 12 months “.

“It’s been a year that I answered it. I’ll believe when I’ll see them, ” says his side the mp, pq’s Carole Poirier.