Health-care staff expect much-needed breather this summer, with no restrictions on time off

All signs point towardoverworked health-care workers being able to take some much-needed time off this summer.

Last year, many hospitals and other health-care establishmentsimposed a two-week limit on vacation time for some of their staff, specifically nurses.

Regional health boards across Quebec were given that powerby a decree from the provincial government.

The decree allowed them to impose certain rules in order to make sure it had enough staff on hand to care for patients during the pandemic.

In some cases, part-time employees were forced to work full-time hours due to staff shortages.

That decree is still in effect and it will stay that way "in the short term", said aspokesperson for Health Minister Christian Dub.

However, the spokesperson added that vacation time for health-care workers will be given out according to the rules of their collective agreements, and that the minister "is putting everything in place" to make sure there are no staff shortages while health-care personnel take "well-deserved vacations."

The Fdration interprofessionnelle de la sant du Qubec (FIQ), the largest nurses union,in the province says it hasn't heard of any health-care establishment that planto limit their employees' vacation time.

But given that an outbreak in a hospital could happen at any moment and affect staffing levels, unionpresidentNancy Bdardissueda warning.

"There is not one establishment that can take away the right of health-care professionals to have vacations this summer. It is non-negotiable,"Bdard said.

"At the present time, it is clear and understood with the minister of health and social services that summer vacation is going to be given according to the collective agreements of each of the establishments."

One regional health board has already made it clear it will not use the ministerial decree.

"Last summer, we had asked our personnel to limit their vacation time... because there was a serious shortage," said Sonia Blanger, head of the CIUSSS du Centre-Sud-de-l'le-de-Montral.

"This summer, there won't be any restrictions. So people can take time off according to the usual rules."

Blanger saysthe pressure on the health-care system is far from what it was last year.

WATCH| A behind-the-scenes look at how vaccines go from foreign factories to Canadian arms

How Canada's vaccines get from the factory to your arm

3 years ago

Duration 3:55

Behind the scenes, there's a complicated system that ensures vaccines leaving a foreign factory are safely administered here.