The MUHC reaffirms its commitment to the Lachine Hospital

Montreal, October 29, 2021 - The McGill University Health Centre (MUHC) wishes to reaffirm its commitment to care teams and patients of the Lachine Hospital, as well as to the population of Lachine and Dorval. Despite a temporary decrease in activity at the Lachine Hospital Emergency Department, the MUHC, in collaboration with the ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux and other Montreal establishments, continues its work to ensure full access to the health services required by the population of Lachine and the surrounding area as quickly as possible.

After more than 18 months of the COVID-19 pandemic, several establishments in the Montreal health and social services network are experiencing a significant labour shortage. The Lachine Hospital, which has already suffered from a precarious workforce for several years, is now facing a critical shortage of nurses and respiratory therapists. As of November 7, the Lachine Hospital emergency room will welcome ambulatory patients from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., seven days a week. Ambulances will be redirected to other emergency rooms.

Today, MUHC officials held information sessions for staff and physicians to answer questions and present a contingency plan that will allow us to provide safe, quality patient care. As part of that plan, we will continue our recruitment campaigns in nursing and respiratory therapy. Our other services will remain available: medical and surgical beds, elective surgery activity in the operating room, outpatient clinics, laboratories, medical imaging, as well as all the services offered at the CHSLD Camille-Lefebvre, including support for chronically ventilated patients at all times. In addition, we will maintain a quick on-site emergency response for any critical situation (cardiac or respiratory emergency), day or night, seven days a week.

Finally, it is important to note that this temporary closure does not affect ongoing work of the modernization project of the Lachine Hospital. Once finalized, this project, estimated at more than $200 million, will allow the hospital to maintain a high level of care and offer patients modern facilities and individual rooms conducive to healing. This project represents our vision of a promising future for the community hospital, and we are committed to its successful completion.

Media contact

Gilda Salomone

Manager, Communications
McGill University Health Centre

Cell : 514 377-4996
[email protected]