Quebec calls on bureaucrats to work in hospitals amid staffing shortage – CBC

Workers would perform non-medical tasks, such as offering meals and administrative work

Jan 17, 2022

Quebec Premier François Legault is asking government employees to volunteer to work in hospitals, as staffing shortages continue to hamper the province’s health-care system.

Bureaucrats are being asked to opt-in to work in a hospital setting as service aides, taking over non-medical tasks normally performed by nurses. That could include disinfecting surfaces and equipment, doing administrative tasks, and providing meals to patients.

“There is a storm to weather and the government is launching a call for solidarity,” wrote Éric Ducharme, the secretary of Quebec’s Treasury Board, in an email obtained by Radio-Canada.

The letter, which was sent to all provincial employees, said the health ministry needs to “rapidly respond to significant labour shortages across its territory,” and is asking for volunteers.

“In this period of significant increase in hospitalizations due to the pandemic, our colleagues are therefore calling on us to go, for a few weeks, to lend a hand,” it read.

Read more: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/quebec-hospital-workers-1.6317487