The Haut-Saint-Laurent Users’ Committee is an important but little-known group that serves as a voice for those who rely on the area’s health care institutions, including the Huntingdon CLSC, the Huntingdon and Ormstown Residential and Long-term Care Centres (CHSLDs), and the Barrie Memorial Hospital in Ormstown.
The committee held its annual general meeting on March 12 at the town hall in Ormstown. There were ten people present, including four members of the committee.
The evening included a conference on the future of users’ committees in the context of the Santé Québec era presented by Philippe Besombes, a former director at the Centre Intégré de Santé et Services Sociaux de la Montérégie-Ouest (CISSSMO).
Besombes discussed the history of the public healthcare system and the evolution of the users’ committees, which were first introduced in 1991. He spoke candidly about the different healthcare reforms and their impact on user representation, including the most recent transition to Santé Québec and more centralized management of the province’s system.
Following Besombes’s presentation, the interim president, Judith Lussier, opened the meeting, noting that the past year represented a significant transition for the committee, which lost two members.
“Our goal remains to strengthen the structure, organization, and planning of our activities while bringing more enjoyment and efficiency to our work and staying true to our mission of advocating for rights and supporting users,” said Lussier.
“We have also continued to emphasize the importance of our bilingual identity,” she added, before reminding those in attendance that the Haut-Saint-Laurent institutions have bilingual status and users have the right to access services in their language of choice.
“It’s a central aspect of our mission that presents both challenges and opportunities,” she explained, while noting that the committee’s ability to communicate effectively in both English and French is crucial to ensuring effective interaction with all users in their preferred language.
During the last year, the committee was present at agricultural fairs and community activities. They purchased interactive screens for the Huntingdon CHSLD to help promote users’ rights, and informative flags were installed at all Haut-Saint-Laurent health and social services sites. The also printed pamphlets that explain the committee’s role.
As part of their efforts to promote improvements to users’ quality of life, the committee worked to recruit new members to the residents’ committee at the Ormstown CHSLD, after all but one member resigned.
Lussier reported that the committee met seven times during the last fiscal year, and members contributed around 100 hours of volunteer work.
Lussier noted that several projects were planned for this year, including the recruitment of new members. The committee will also continue to collaborate with local organizations, including the Montérégie-West Community Network, by sharing tables at local fairs and events., and it will continue to raise awareness about users’ rights by giving presentations at regional consultation tables.
“Looking ahead, we remain united in our commitment to improving the quality of life for residents and users and to strengthening our committee,” said Lussier, while highlighting the significance of the committee as the healthcare system adapts to Santé Québec reforms.
More information on the Users’ Committee and becoming a volunteer is available by calling 450-829-2321 ext. 353401.