The practitioners are supporting their colleagues

The hospital in Lachine is the only francophone west of the island of Montreal. (Archives) Doctors at the hospital in Lachine were supported by their colleagues from the Federation of Quebec general practitioners in their fight against the integration of their property at McGill University Health Centre. "The Lachine Hospital, which is the only francophone hospital in the west of the island of Montreal, must be able to preserve its uniqueness and the needs of its people," said the president of the federation of general practitioners Louis Godin. The doctors are in favour of an association with the university English, but not a merger. "We support you in your efforts to guarantee the autonomy of the hospital in Lachine to preserve the special nature of your business to your population. -- The president of the Federation of omnipraticiens du Québec, Louis Godin " The federation believes that the community hospital should retain its mission and promotes a partnership with the MUHC. She stressed that citizens have obtained a resolution of the National Assembly on June 7, 2007 stating the importance of the hospital for Francophone west of the island of Montreal and the importance of maintaining hospital services and specialized. The resolution of the National Assembly The National Assembly asked the Minister of Health and Social Services for the return of ambulances to the hospital in Lachine, when deemed appropriate by the competent medical authorities and emphasizes its unique status in the west of the island of Montreal, especially for the French, maintaining hospital services and specialized. Integration at the MUHC The Agency for Health of Montreal approved the proposed integration of the hospital in Lachine at McGill University Health Center (MUHC), last Tuesday, despite concerns of staff. Employees fear for the francophone character of the institution which will be merged at the MUHC, a university English. The hospital staff Lachine reiterated his concerns language Tuesday night, the Agency of Health, but its president and CEO, David Levine, has nevertheless announced its decision to move forward with the case. Mr. Levine said he will take into account the concerns of employees of the hospital and he stated that the property will retain its status francophone. "I had asked the minister to ensure that the francophone character is maintained. -- The CEO of the Health Agency in Montreal, David Levine " According to Mr. Levine, the Ministry of Health receives the integration of the Lachine hospital within the MUHC as a way to provide maximum services to the public. Mr. Levine has also assured the doctors that the hospital would retain its community-building mission and its hospital activities. Doctors at the hospital in Lachine may also retain counsel of local doctors. The association with hospitals is the only application doctors rejected by the Agency, since once integrated, hospital Lachine technically no longer exist. "One of the requirements was that the MUHC hospital Lachine be integrated," said Levine. The Montreal french Movement and the Coalition for the hospital francophone Lachine opposed to the merger. They Summit Premier Jean Charest to grant autonomy to the only francophone institution in the west of the island in order to guarantee the rights of francophones in the region to be treated in their own language. The Agency is pressed for time, since legally transfer of hospital activities of the hospital in Lachine at the MUHC must take place on March 31.