In the past five months, the total number of hours worked within the healthcare network has decreased by 5.9 million, as per data from Santé Québec exclusively obtained by The Canadian Press. The majority of this decline, accounting for 3.7 million hours, was observed among independent workers (IWs). Additionally, there was a reduction of 790,000 hours of mandatory overtime and 1.3 million hours of regular working hours.
This drop in hours translates into significant savings, amounting to $293 million for the months of April to July. A substantial portion of these savings stems from the network’s gradual shift away from private healthcare agencies.
Sonia Dugas, Vice-President of Finance at Santé Québec, emphasized that independent workers cost the network twice as much as regular-time staff. The strategic transition aims to streamline operations without compromising care quality while enhancing patient access.
Santé Québec’s performance indicators reveal improved healthcare access amidst reduced working hours and expenses. Notably, the agency has seen a surge in surgeries and appointments with specialized nurse practitioners.
