Montfort Hospital struggles to deal with increase in Quebec patients

Ottawa's Montfort Hospital is handing out pamphlets to Quebec patients to help them assess whether they really need to be there.

The move comes as the number of patients crossing the river to goto the Montfort's emergency room increases.

"It [puts] pressure on our department,and we're dealing with that particular pressure," said Dr. Bernard Leduc, the hospital's president.

In 2009, nearly 4,000 patients from Quebec came to Montfort, and in 2013 that number rose to about 10,000 patients per year.

The increase has meant longer wait times for all patients at the hospital.

The pamphlets warn patients from Quebec that the emergency room is supposed to be for emergencies, and that if their visit is notan emergency, they may be better off getting care in Quebec.

The Montfort administration is careful to note that Quebec patients will not be turned away, no matter what the reason for the visit. It's simply informing patients that its ability to follow up on chronic care problems is limited with Quebec patients.

Not enough doctors in the Outaouais, health ministry figures show

Jean-Charles Pichereau, apatient advocate forAction Sant Outaouais, saidthe Outaouais doesn't have enough doctors, nurses and caregivers, and he expects the situation to get worse before it gets better.

The latest statistics from Quebec's Ministry of Health and Social Services suggest the Outaouais should have 22 per cent more doctors than it has now to meet the needs of the population.

Between 2011 and 2012 alone, the region lost six per cent of its doctors.

About 100,000 Quebec patients seek care in all of Ontario each year.

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