With pediatric ERs overwhelmed, where do parents in Quebec turn when their child gets sick?

Anna Belmonte’s 8-week-old son was born prematurely, but like many Quebecers, Francesco doesn’t have a family doctor or pediatrician. So when his son fell ill a few weeks ago, Belmonte immediately took him to the Montreal Children’s Hospital.

READ MORE: Record numbers of Quebec children skip school and go home sick

After waiting five hours, the doctor told her that she had a stuffy nose and that it would clear up quickly.

But instead, she didn’t know where to turn if she needed a second opinion.

“I have a family doctor, but he refuses to accept babies as patients. He says he doesn’t specialize in pediatrics, so I completely understand that.” In our state, seeing a doctor is silly.”

READ MORE: Mother suffers nightmarish ordeal to treat sick baby in Montreal

First time mom stumbled upon KixCare. This is a way for parents to get a quick appointment with their pediatrician.

Co-founder Dr. Harley Eisman, who is also the medical director of the Children’s Clinic, said Kixcare was founded during the pandemic.

“A lot of pediatrics is really just advice and observation,” he said. “So everyone benefits if they can do it in the comfort and safety of their own homes.”

Telemedicine services can also be viewed as an alternative as pediatric ERs continue to be overwhelmed.

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Eisman says 811 is another good option for parents.

If you don’t have a primary care doctor, you can dial 3 to access the Primary Care Access Point. This in French he is known as Guichet d’accès à la premièreligne (GAP).

However, regardless of whether your child is under medical care, dial 1 to access a priority line available to all children 17 and under.

Average wait times are typically around 30 minutes, but can vary during peak times.

READ MORE: Quebec medical experts warn of collapsing healthcare system

“Most more than half the time[nurses]refer patients to a pharmacy or self-care, nasal hygiene or Tylenol.” Regional Department of General Medicine. “Then, for example, if he doesn’t get better within 24 to 48 hours, we tell him to see his family doctor as needed.”

However, Murray said Priority Line is not available everywhere in Quebec. Currently available in Montreal, Monterégie, Laval, Lanaudiere and Laurentian.

She said the state is working to make the line accessible to everyone.

Doctors say that although the virus currently circulating is severe, most are being treated at home without antibiotics.

Eisman says parents should follow their intuition, but here are some things to watch out for:

• High fever in children under 3 months of age
• Children who are extremely lethargic, not eating or drinking and breathing hard
• For severe illness, children with underlying medical conditions should also be followed.

Overall, health experts say try to sit still and use telemedicine options or 811 before seeing an in-person visit.

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