Not surprisingly, the impact of the measures set out in the Act to limit the use of personnel placement agencies and independent labour in the health and social services sector has already begun to be felt across Quebec, and Hôpital du Suroît is no exception. 

In the last few days, the hospital has had to reduce its activities, particularly in the temporary complex next to its emergency department, for an indefinite period. The temporary complex includes a new 20-bed medical unit and a brief hospitalization unit (UHB) with 10 stretcher alcoves.

“We are currently assessing whether further closures will be necessary early next week. Several intensive steps are underway to limit them as much as possible. We are monitoring the situation very closely, and it is constantly evolving,” explained the Communications and Public Affairs Department of CISSS de la Montérégie-Ouest.

The Quebec government has pledged to abolish the use of private agency labour by October 2026, and as of this week, with the capping of agency rates, new contracts are more restrictive. “This situation is reducing the availability of their employees to work in our facilities,” continues CISSSMO.  

In recent weeks, a vast campaign to hire agency employees has been carried out, and according to the CISSSMO, some one hundred of these employees have joined the organization. An appeal was also made to existing employees to increase their availability by voluntarily accepting additional shifts. 
  
Agreements have also been reached with other CISSSs to limit the impact on Suroît Hospital users.