Locals say this hospital is falling apart — but it's still not on Quebec's fix-it list
Despite infrastructure problems, funding for new hospital in Drummondville, Que., left out of budget
Wet floors, busted pipes, sewer problems and broken elevators have become all too common at the Sainte-Croix Drummondville Hospital, says Dr. Catherine Tétreault.
"Our work is already complex," she said. "So if you add this element, with the infrastructure, it's a real puzzle for us when it happens."
Working at the hospital for the past decade, Tétreault says she's among the staff left to battle these recurring infrastructure problems at the medical centre built in the late 1940s.
Last winter, two out of three elevators broke down at the same time. Tétreault says flooding has become so frequent, the hospital gave it its own unique code — "Code Turquoise."
Just last year, Tétreault said the hospital had 14 of those codes. And she says those were just the major floods.
"When it happens, we deal with it. It's always like that," she said. "We want our patients to be secure. We want them to have the greatest care."
She says the construction of a new facility needs to start as soon as possible to meet the growing needs of Drummondville, Que., which has experienced a population increase and boasts around 83,000 people, according to the city.
But the project for a new regional hospital was not included in Quebec's infrastructure plan as part of the budget tabled on Tuesday by Quebec's finance minister.
The $2.9 billion committed for major hospital construction, reconstruction and expansion includes some projects, such as the modernization of the surgical technical support centre of the Saint-Jérôme Hospital, the operating suite of Chicoutimi Hospital and Lachine Hospital's complex.
While Drummondville's hospital does appear in the budget documents and will be submitted to the government "for approval for study during 2025-26," the uncertainty is making people, including Tétreault, slightly anxious.
"Because it's an emergency need," said Tétreault. "The fact that it's written in the document, it give[s] us a small part of hope."
Robert Pelletier, president of the coalition for a new regional hospital in Drummondville, says the hospital's mention in he budget is a step in the right direction.
"[It] makes us realize that we're not completely forgotten," said Pelletier.
But in a video posted to the coalition's page on Facebook late Tuesday, Pelletier said waiting for the project to be approved for study could take months or a year, which he says is "unacceptable."
Alongside doctors, elected officials have visited the National Assembly to reiterate the need for urgent action.
Not being included in the funding for new infrastructure is disappointing, but everyone will continue to work to improve conditions while waiting for a new hospital, says Nathalie Petitclerc, president and general manager of the local health authority in the central Quebec region.
"It's a disappointment because of the mobilization of citizens, our staff and our employees. However, I can tell you that our mobilization will not stop," she said.
Staff 'do miracles with what we have,' says doctor
While these infrastructure issues have started to impact capacity, Tétreault says staff are the ones keeping the hospital running smoothly with a high standard of care.
"That's one reason that we're not on the radar of the government because the care team is unbelievable," she said.
Tétreault, who is from Drummondville, says it's part of why she's stuck around all these years.
"The people in this hospital are wonderful. They are able to do miracles with what we have. And also this is my city … I love my city," said Tétreault.
"It's this thing that keeps us there."
But she says staff need hope to keep going.
"It's easy to get tired with this," said Tétreault. "And we hope that we will be heard and … to know that we will have this new hospital at one point."
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With files from Radio-Canada