History

The Regroupement provincial des comités des usagers (RPCU) was born of the initiative of the users committee of the Centre hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal and around twenty other hospital users committees in various regions of Quebec.

The aim of these committees was to meet the needs of members, who had expressed a desire to break their isolation, foster a sense of belonging, promote the sharing of expertise, and have an effective voice with the Ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux.

An initial exploratory meeting held on June 13, 2003, led to the creation of a provisional committee, made up of representatives of users committees from ten facilities across Quebec.

• le Centre hospitalier Anna-Laberge;
• le Centre hospitalier Pierre-Le Gardeur;
• le Centre hospitalier universitaire de Québec;
• le Centre hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal;
• le Centre hospitalier des vallées de l’Outaouais;
• le Centre de santé et de services sociaux Cléophas-Claveau;
• le Centre universitaire de santé McGill;
• l’Hôpital Laval;
• l’Hôpital du Sacré-Cœur de Montréal;
• l’Hôtel-Dieu d’Arthabaska.

The provisional committee’s first mandate was to create a grouping of acute-care hospital users committees. This led to the creation of the RPCU, which officially received its letters patent under Part III of the Companies Act in 2004.

At the same time, the Quebec government was reorganizing the province’s health care system. In 2003, it passed Bill 25 (An Act respecting local health and social services network development agencies, R.S.Q., 2005, c. A-8-1.), which led to the creation of local health and social services networks and the establishment of 95 health and social services centres across Quebec. Then, in November 2005, the National Assembly passed Bill 83 (An Act to amend the Act Respecting Health Services and Social Services and other legislative provisions, R.S.Q., 2005, c. 32), which modified the organizational structure of users committees and in-patients committees throughout the health and social services network.

Following this reorganization, the provisional committee adapted its mandate and worked towards the creation of a provincial grouping for all users and in-patients committees in all health and social service facilities, regardless of their vocation.
To this end, it has ensured that representatives from all the missions sit on the RPCU:

• Affiliated hospitals
• University hospitals
• Psychiatric hospitals
• Youth centres
• Intellectual disability rehabilitation centres
• Rehabilitation centres for the physically disabled
• Addiction rehabilitation centres (alcohol, drugs, medications, and gambling)
• Health and social services centres

The provisional committee wanted to offer all users and in-patients committees in Quebec’s health and social services facilities a group that would represent them in their dealings with government bodies, health care facilities, the general public, and the media. This group would also enable them to participate in major debates in the same way as all other health and social services organizations in the province. Finally, the provisional committee wanted above all to support users and in-patients committees as it was aware of the operational difficulties they were experiencing, which could prevent them from fully playing their role.

All health and social services facilities are required to set up a users committee and, if applicable, a in-patients committee.

The needs of the committees vary according to the clientele they represent. Their mandate must therefore be adapted to the realities of their environment. This mandate has always been set out in the Act Respecting Health Services and Social Services (R.S.Q., c. S-4.2), but it has evolved with the various reforms to Quebec’s health and social services system. Today, its main aims are to respect users’ rights, promote improvement in the quality of services and living conditions, and ensure client satisfaction.

2024 will mark the RPCU’s twentieth anniversary. It’s an opportunity to highlight the contribution and loyalty of the RPCU’s user and in-patients committees. Stay tuned for many activities and announcements during this important year for our organization!