Maria Hospital in Gaspésie will experience a partial disruption in obstetric services starting at midnight, Wednesday, for five days, according to the Integrated Health and Social Services Center (CISSS) of Gaspésie. This means expectant mothers may face challenges accessing care locally during this period.
Temporary Obstetric Service Changes in Gaspésie
Service will be fully available on December 25th and is expected to resume fully on December 30th.
- A partial service disruption is planned for the obstetric department at Maria Hospital from Wednesday for five days.
- Ten pregnant women beyond 36 weeks gestation have been informed and offered accommodations in Chandler.
- A similar situation is unfolding at Sainte-Anne-des-Monts hospital, potentially extending until new nursing staff are available.
- Service disruptions in Haute-Gaspésie have occurred frequently since January 1, 2025, impacting access to local maternity care.
The CISSS of Gaspésie confirmed that the obstetric department experienced a similar period of reduced service on the same date last year. As a standard procedure, a contingency plan is in place, directing patients to the Chandler hospital for safe access to care. Ten pregnant women who are over 36 weeks gestation have been notified and offered accommodations in Chandler.
Did you know?– Quebec’s rural areas often face healthcare access challenges due to staffing difficulties and geographic isolation. The province is actively working to recruit and retain healthcare professionals in these regions.
What is causing these disruptions in obstetric care? Staffing shortages are the primary driver, leading to temporary “discoveries” – periods where full service cannot be guaranteed.
Concurrently, another service disruption is underway at the Sainte-Anne-des-Monts hospital, continuing until December 25th. Officials indicate the situation may persist until additional nurses are hired. As January 1, 2025, obstetric services in Haute-Gaspésie have been disrupted or unavailable for a total of 133 days, occurring across fourteen separate instances. This means that for over three months of the year, pregnant women in Haute-Gaspésie have been unable to deliver their babies in a local hospital.
Pro tip– If you are pregnant and live in Haute-Gaspésie, discuss contingency plans with your healthcare provider. Knowing your options and having a plan can reduce stress during potential service disruptions.
The repeated disruptions highlight the ongoing challenges of maintaining consistent healthcare access in rural areas, particularly for essential services like maternity care.
Who is affected? Expectant mothers in Haute-Gaspésie are directly impacted by these disruptions, facing potential travel to Chandler Hospital for delivery. Ten women over 36 weeks gestation have already been offered accommodations there. The CISSS of Gaspésie is responsible for managing the situation and ensuring continued access to care.
Why are these disruptions happening? The root cause is a critical shortage of healthcare staff, specifically nurses and obstetricians, in the region.This leads to temporary service reductions when adequate staffing levels cannot be maintained. the CISSS acknowledges a similar disruption occurred last year on the same date, indicating a recurring issue.
How did it end? The current disruption at Maria Hospital is scheduled to end on December 30th, with full services resuming at that time. Though,the situation at Sainte-Anne-des-Monts remains uncertain,dependent on the recruitment of additional nursing staff.The CISSS has a contingency plan in place, redirecting patients to Chandler Hospital to ensure safe deliveries during these periods of reduced service.
