Camille Arsenault experienced a distressing situation when she had to be transferred to a hospital 130 kilometers away after her water broke at home in Gaspésie, Que. Due to a lack of staff at her local hospital, she had to spend two hours in an ambulance before being taken to the Hôpital de Chandler. Despite the challenges, she appreciated the care she received at the Chandler hospital.
The Gaspé region, particularly Haute-Gaspésie, has faced significant difficulties in obstetrics services over the past year. Hôpital de Sainte-Anne-des-Monts was closed for a total of 133 days in 2025 compared to 27 days the previous year. Women from that hospital are often redirected to Matane, an hour away in the Lower St. Lawrence region.
Jean St-Pierre, deputy executive director of CISSS de la Gaspésie, mentioned that the region has been struggling with staffing issues in obstetrics units. With only one full-time obstetrics nurse and five vacant nursing positions, service disruptions are anticipated. The obstetrics unit at Sainte-Anne-des-Monts may face closures for half of the weeks in the near future.
According to St-Pierre, the lack of childbirth cases at the Sainte-Anne-des-Monts hospital has led to dissatisfaction among specialized nurses who prefer busier centers. The challenges have resulted in some women giving birth in the emergency room with less experienced staff.
Several hospitals in the Gaspé region, including Hôpital de Gaspé and Maria, have experienced obstetrics unit closures and service disruptions. Efforts to recruit more nurses have been unsuccessful, despite various recruitment strategies.
Véronique Ouellette of Maison des Familles Haute-Gaspésie expressed concerns about the unstable obstetrics services in the region. The situation has prompted calls from Parti-Québécois health critic Joël Arseneau for increased resources in obstetrics in eastern Quebec. The government’s response to the issue remains a topic of concern, with calls for intervention to address the challenges faced by women in the Gaspé region.