Health: services in English to be improved
Faced with a population that’s less and less Francophone, the regional health network has no other choice but to rapidly improve access to the services it renders in English.
According to Statistics Canada, the proportion of French mother-tongue Laval residents declined 9% in the past 10 years, a reality forcing several sectors of society to adapt.
In health, the ASSS (l’Agence de la santé et les services sociaux – Health and Social Services Agency), has just released its Access program to health services and social services in the English language in Laval 2007-2010.
To determine the different needs on the island, the committee charged with the project consulted certain community groups with direct links to English-speaking people in Laval. Solutions were proposed for each of the needs cited.
Among these needs, it was learned that despite improvements to the Emergency Room services at Cité de la Santé, certain gaps are prevalent for English-speaking patients once admitted to a room or ward. The ASSS also notes that the people consulted said patients experienced problems obtaining telephone services in English at the hospital.
Recommendations were also made to put more emphasis on prevention by increasing the number of services for English-speaking seniors.
On the other hand, it would appear that it’s easier to get services in English in private practice compared with difficulties detected at Info-Santé, and that despite improvements it’s still easier to get services in English in Montreal hospitals than at Cité de la Santé.
Improvements
In the next five years, the people consulted would like to see, among other things, improvement of access to English-speaking or bilingual family doctors, provision of a transportation service for all users who must rely on (medical) services outside the region that are unavailable in Laval, emphasis on training for interveners with regard to English courses and on the right of English-speakers to obtain services in the English language, availability of health services in oncology, and the setting up of a mechanism to assist English speakers with their complaints.
Information provided by the Sir Wilfrid Laurier School Board for the study reveals difficult access to certain services (in English) such as child psychiatry, speech therapy, occupational therapy. The school board also reports a lack of special education teachers who speak English fairly well and a concern that English-speaking young people with drug problems are facing a serious challenge as there are neither services in English, nor measures for a drug addiction treatment in English.
The Access program to health services and social services in the English Language 2007-2010 was produced within the framework of a ministerial (Health and Social Services) policy enjoining all health agencies of the province to implement this type of program.
Photo: Pick up, dim. 10 Fev. P. A17
(Photo: Courtesy)
Météo: Laval, 22 mai 2008 / 12°C
/ Faible averse de pluie
/ Vents: 9 Km/h / Humidité relative: 67 % 
Steven Guilbeault - 
