What it is:
SOS Outaouais is a coalition of organizations and citizens from all sectors of the Outaouais who wish to speak with one voice and who share deep concerns about the current state of the health and social services system. It also brings together the efforts of groups and individuals who have been making public demands to date.
The Gatineau Health Foundation is the coalition’s coordinator and spokesperson.
We need to act, together, with one voice!
The current situation is alarming, as evidenced by the following statistics:
- The Gatineau ER operates with less than 30% staff, and had to close for several months a few years ago due to staff shortages;
- The Hull ER operates with less than 50% staff;
- Gatineau’s operating room operates with 25% staff and Hull’s with 43%;
- Waiting times for elective surgery are the longest in the province;
- Access to laboratory tests is limited in all outlying ERs.
Our plea is as follows:
Statement 1 :
We, the members of the SOS Outaouais coalition, call on the Quebec National Assembly to correct the historic disparities in health and social services for the Outaouais, in addition to honoring its recognition of our region with its significant particularities, formulated on October 30, 2019. Despite this recognition, the situation continues to deteriorate, jeopardizing equitable access to healthcare for our citizens. The coalition affirms that Outaouais citizens have a fundamental right to access the same care available elsewhere in the province. Significant funding shortfalls and human resources challenges are severely hampering our ability to offer services comparable to those in other regions of Quebec. We are currently $448.54* per capita, or approximately $181 million per year*, short of the provincial average in per capita spending on health and social services programs.
* Source : Bégin, Alexandre (2024). L’Outaouais en mode rattrapage : suivi des progrès de la région en santé, éducation et culture. Mars 2024, Observatoire du développement de l’Outaouais. 2024-L’Outaouais en mode rattrapage (odooutaouais.ca)
Statement 2 :
The SOS Outaouais coalition urges the Quebec National Assembly to take immediate action to improve health care and social services in our region. Our border location with Ontario attracts many Outaouais workers and professionals to work there because of the more attractive salaries. To remedy these disparities and prevent the implosion of the Outaouais healthcare system, we are calling for the implementation of permanent and sustainable measures, including differentiated compensation for health and social services workers and professionals in our region. It’s crucial that the government take these actions to guarantee equitable access to healthcare for all Outaouais residents.
Ongoing and future actions:
- The coalition will act as a representative of Outaouais citizens, lending its voice before the National Assembly to advocate for the correction of historical disparities in health and social services, as well as calling for permanent and sustainable measures, including differentiated remuneration for health and social services professionals in our region;
- The coalition aspires to create an unprecedented citizen mobilization, bringing together all the voices in our region for powerful, united representation.
- Discover other ways to get involved via our partners: Pétition Santé, l’Outaouais en assez, Québec doit intervenir and SOS 07.
Press review
June 12, 2024:
La vie sans médecin de famille (ledroit.com)
June 10, 2024:
Lancement de la coalition SOS Outaouais – CHIP FM
June 7, 2024:
Me Benoît Duclos est membre du comité de coordination de SOS Outaouais — 104.7 Outaouais (fm1047.ca)
SOS Outaouais: prenons notre sort en main (ledroit.com)
June 6, 2024:
Lancement de la coalition SOS Outaouais – TVA Gatineau
Une coalition SOS Outaouais «parce qu’on est au bout du rouleau» (ledroit.com)
Santé | SOS Outaouais n’écarte pas des recours judiciaires — 104.7 Outaouais (fm1047.ca)
Lancement de la coalition SOS Outaouais – TVA Gatineau
Une coalition SOS Outaouais «parce qu’on est au bout du rouleau» (ledroit.com)
Rattrapage du jeudi 6 juin 2024 (radio-canada.ca)
SOS Outaouais voit le jour pour défendre les intérêts en santé dans la région | CHGA
TVA 18H – 6 juin 2024 – TVA Gatineau
La coalition SOS Outaouais est officiellement lancée (msn.com)
June 5, 2024:
Système de santé | Après SOS Montfort, voilà SOS Outaouais — 104.7 Outaouais (fm1047.ca)