Quebec hospital acts in provincial election campaign. (Health).

GATINEAU, QC -- The Outaouais Regional Hospital is pressuring the province's three main political parties to state how they would deal with the institution's problems, including the chronic nursing shortage. This is the first time a provincially-owned hospital has entered an election campaign.

The hospital organized separate, one hour private meetings with local candidates.

Each meeting was followed by a news conference at which details of the meeting were issued.

The provincially owned hospital did not endorse specific candidates or parties, but plans to remind the winners of their promises.

The candidates were asked how they would solve these problems:

* the shortage of nurses and doctors;

* the competition higher-wage hospitals in nearby Ontario;

* hospital financing; and

* infrastructure issues, including buildings and equipment.

This to be the first time a provincially owned hospital in the region has challenged politicians.

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