COVID-19 Quebec coroners inquest hears of staff shortages at Residence Herron

By Staff The Canadian Press

Posted September 8, 2021 11:33 am

Smaller font Descrease article font size

-A

Larger font Increase article font size

A+

A doctor told a Quebec coronerâ€™s inquest Tuesday that a Montreal-area long-term care home where dozens of people died during the first wave of COVID-19 was extremely understaffed in the early days of the pandemic.

Dr. Nadine Larente said there were so few employees on site when she first arrived at Residence Herron on March 29 that she called her husband and three children to come help feed and change patients.

Larente, who is a director of professional care for the local health authority, said she was told some employees had stayed home because they were afraid, but most were following advice from the governmentâ€™s health hotline to self-isolate for two weeks after coming into contact with a positive COVID-19 case.

Trending Stories

Planning to visit B.C.? Hereâ€™s what you need to know about the COVID-19 vaccine card

Conservative lead growing slightly as Liberal, NDP election campaigns hit wall: poll

Read more: Owners of CHSLD Herron didnâ€™t co-operate with health authority, Quebec inquest hears

Story continues below advertisement

Larente said her group did their best to care for residents, but they didnâ€™t have enough masks for everyone or enough personal protective equipment to change it between patients.

Coroner GÃ©hane Kamelâ€™s mandate is to investigate 53 deaths at six long-term care homes, known as CHSLDs in the province, and one seniors residence.

The portion of the hearings involving Herron began Tuesday after being suspended while prosecutors decided whether to pursue charges against the owners of the now-closed facility. Ultimately they decided the evidence did not meet the bar for criminal charges.

View link Â»