I remember so many situations when I was on duty in Emergency. The waiting room was full. I wanted to discharge a patient who had a nose bleed that required nasal packing. And he needed prompt follow-up in ENT to ensure the continuity of care. Another time, a child needed follow-up for severe swimmer’s ear requiring a wick in the external auditory canal.
I was shocked to learn that both these patients would have to wait a month for an appointment. I couldn’t let them leave, not knowing when they would receive the care they needed. So, they had to come back to Emergency to see an ENT.
These are not exceptional cases. Thousands of patients in Montérégie are waiting for ENT consultations. And yet, being able to hear, eat, breathe and smell are vital functions for our daily wellbeing.
Every day spent waiting can limit some of these patients’ autonomy and add to their stress. And without space in outpatient clinics, they end up back in a crowded emergency room.
But this is not news to you. Too often, Emergency is the default for semi-urgent consultations. Why? Because patients can’t get an appointment within a reasonable timeframe anywhere else. And our limited spaces to see patients, in ambulatory care or on a stretcher, are not enough to meet the demand.
That’s why we need your help. The timeframes for ENT consultations have become unmanageable. My colleagues, Dr. Jean-François Cloutier and Dr. Nicolas Charbonneau, have found the space they need. Teams of specialists are ready. All we need is your support to finance the necessary medical equipment.
By helping us, you’re helping patients like the ones I see in Emergency. Giving them the chance to receive the care they deserve at the right time. And you’re also helping to free up your Hospital’s ER. A major challenge for our health system!
Every gesture to reduce overcrowding means better access to care for everyone. We will forever be grateful to you for your kindness and commitment.
Dr. Sophie Gosselin
Chief of Emergency
Hôpital Charles-Le Moyne
