Risk of service disruptions again this summer in Quebec health-care network

The emergency waiting room at The Montreal Children's Hospital on Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024 in Montreal. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press)

As the summer season begins, Santé Québec has reported that there are 96 “service disruption situations” in the network, 13 of which have yet to be resolved.

Historically, the summer season has been synonymous with service disruptions in the healthcare system due to health-care staff taking holidays.

Despite this, Santé Québec insists that it is under control and that the “situation should be relatively stable compared to last year.”

“There will be service reductions, just as there have always been service reductions during the summer period, but this year will be no different from previous years,” assured Santé Québec spokesperson Robin Marie Coleman at a press briefing on Tuesday.

It is reported that so far, 80 per cent of the anticipated service disruptions have been avoided.

Measures have been put in place to prevent them, including a mobile team for remote regions such as the North Shore, the Outaouais and Abitibi-Témiscamingue.

This team, which was set up by the government to compensate for the withdrawal of independent labour, has 246 employees.

In addition, Santé Québec indicates that the end or reduction in the use of independent labour in certain regions of Quebec will be an “additional challenge” this year.

It also states that the regions of Mauricie, Centre-du-Québec, Laurentides, Bas-Saint-Laurent and Côte-Nord are “under surveillance.”

Santé Québec was unable to provide the number of beds that will be closed during the summer.

Last year, 1,500 beds were closed.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on June 17, 2025.