Pavillon Sainte-Marie target of injunction to stop closure
Families of patients at long-term care facility turn to courts in dispute with government
An injunction is being sought to prevent the Quebec government from closing a long-term care facility in Saint-Jérôme.
Families of patients at the Pavillon Sainte-Marie say they will file the injunction with Quebec Superior Court on Monday.
They hope by turning to the courts they will be able to delay the process of moving Sainte-Marie's 63 patients, which is scheduled to begin early this week. Pavillon Sainte-Marie caters to people with severe mental and physical disabilities.
"Where is she going to go, what services is she going to get?" said Denise Hudon, whose daughter Nathalie has lived at Sainte-Marie for 30 years.
"There are multiple services. They have nurses 24-hours a day. There is a doctor. There are many entertainments, zoo therapy, [and] music."
The local health authority — Centre intégré de santé et de services sociaux des Laurentides (CISSS) — said it took the decision to close Pavillon Sainte-Marie because the building was out-of-date. Among other things, it lacks a functioning sprinkler system.
Daniel Corbeil, a senior official with the CISSS, also said that such centres are no longer considered appropriate for people with severe disabilities.
Families were given little notice of the decision to close the Pavillon Sainte-Marie. They were informed on March 2nd, and the centre is slated to be completely closed by April 15th.
The local CISSS is proposing moving Hudon's daughter to a facility 120 kilometers away, which will make it difficult for her to maintain her twice-weekly visits.
Her efforts, and those of the other family members, to stop the closure won't end with the injunction.
"We have a meeting with the CISSS des Laurentides on Tuesday morning to stop them," Hudon said.