The Government of Canada officially transfers Ste. Anne's Hospital to the Quebec health and social services network

News Release

The Quebec Minister of Health and Social Services, Gaétan Barrette; the Minister responsible for Native Affairs and member for the riding of Jacques-Cartier, Geoffrey Kelley; Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence, the Honourable Kent Hehr; as well as Francis Scarpaleggia, Member of Parliament for Lac-Saint-Louis, announced the official transfer of Ste. Anne's Hospital (SAH) to the Quebec health and social services network today.

Formerly the property of Veterans Affairs Canada, Ste. Anne's Hospital was transferred to the CIUSSS of Montreal's West Island (the Quebec health authority) through a transaction between the two governments which took effect on April 1, 2016. SAH will become a long-term care centre. The agreement making the transaction official grants priority access to Veterans.

Use of available beds at SAH

"Ste. Anne's Hospital, which has 446 beds, will house civilian patients from Montreal and the Montérégie region. The long-term care beds at SAH will be used for patients from a facility at the Grace Dart Extended Care Centre which is no longer adapted to its clients. While maintaining care and services for Veterans, we will maximize the available spaces and use the expertise of SAH to meet the needs of several clienteles," said Minister Barrette.

SAH beds will be used as follows:

• Veterans
• 32 long-term care beds for the Montérégie region, with the goal of 128 beds available for this region
• 96 beds for patients from the Grace Dart Extended Care Centre in the fall of 2016
• The other beds will be for the Montreal region

"It was important to both Veterans Affairs Canada and the Government of Quebec that this transfer be as seamless as possible for Veterans and employees. We wanted the least amount of impact possible for those who need care and for those who provide it. Going forward, the distinct expertise in long-term care offered to Veterans at Ste. Anne's Hospital will benefit the local community. This is great news for the region. However, I must stress that all eligible Veterans will continue to have priority access to the exceptional care and services offered at Ste. Anne's Hospital, and that the Department will continue to work closely with the Government of Quebec to ensure Veterans who served this country continue to receive the support and care they need and deserve," said Minister Hehr.

Ste. Anne's Hospital staff

Following a number of retirements on the part of SAH employees, a period of staff recruitment took place with a view to filling the available positions. SAH employees who have accepted job offers from CIUSSS will enjoy the working conditions in effect at the Quebec health and social services network. Accordingly, SAH will maintain its geriatric expertise, to the benefit of all its residents.

Next steps

The first new SAH residents from the Montérégie region began arriving on April 15, 2016. Residents will continue to arrive until September 30, 2016, including those transferred from Grace Dart. The CIUSSS of Montreal's West Island is in charge of planning, preparing and operationalizing this transition. The objective is to combine the expertise already in place with new practices as a wave of new employees arrives, so that we can offer optimal services to our clients.

Minister Geoffrey Kelley added: "SAH was renovated a few years ago. It is therefore a modernized, quality facility, which will be of benefit both to the elderly residents who receive care there and to the clinical staff. I am convinced that SAH will continue to be recognized for its expertise in geriatrics and psychogeriatrics, to the benefit of patients and clients."

Finally, Minister Barrette concluded: "This is excellent news for the regions of Montérégie and Montreal. Using SAH to make several new long-term care beds available immediately will surely have a positive impact on the networks of the two regions. Moreover, this new facility, which will free up hospital beds occupied by patients no longer receiving acute care, will improve access for patients waiting for a hospital bed, whether for medical or surgical reasons."

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Information:

Julie White
Press Secretary for the Minister of Health and Social Services
418-266-7171

Sarah McMaster
Press Secretary for the Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence
613-996-4649

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