Gatineau surgeon warns hospital staff shortages have reached critical stage

Dr. Maxime Guyot has been operating in the Gatineau and Buckingham hospitals for about 10 months. He moved to the region from France and says while he heard the situation was serious, it has become more so. Surgeons want to do procedures, but there aren't the anesthesiologists, respiratory therapists and nurses to support them. That's adding to delays. Dis moi que je suis arrivée j'ai plus de 120 patients sur ma list d'attente C'est à dire que je ne sais pas quand est ce que je vais opérer ce qui est énorme Guyot said in January he could have five to six days per month in the operating room between Gatineau and Buckingham. Now, it's only two. He says cancer patients can be waiting three months for a surgery that should happen in one. Guyot said it's harder to attract and retain health professionals who don't have what they need to do their jobs. He says if the trend continues, the operating room at the Gatineau Hospital could see closures at night. Meanwhile, Santé Québec Outaouais says closing the operating room overnight is not on the health authority's plans or strategy. President and CEO Marc Bilodeau says the Gatineau Hospital OR is essential for several urgent procedures, such as C-sections. He says there are contingency plans if there's further loss of personnel. Bilodeau says retirements have made the situation worse at the Gatineau Hospital, where there are 22 vacant nurse positions. He says he's talking with the provincial health authority about reinforcements for the region. Last year, about 100 patients were transferred out of the Outaouais to Ottawa or Montreal because of the shortage among specialized surgeons. Matthew Kupfer, CBC News, Ottawa.