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Mobile Hospital: an innovative partnership with the Cree Board of Health and Social Services of James Bay and the Cree communities of Eeyou Istchee to strengthen emergency response capacity

In 2020, the Canadian Red Cross strengthened its commitment to First Nations communities by placing response capacity and well-being at the centre of its priorities. Through various projects, it committed to working closely with communities to develop solutions tailored to their unique needs. The Canadian Red Cross provides technical advice and recommends best practices to strengthen community capacity and build safer communities while fostering the resilience of Indigenous populations in Canada. 

A promising project

Since its launch, the project has achieved several key milestones through rigorous planning and extensive collaboration among stakeholders. 

One of the flagship projects in Quebec resulting from this commitment is the initiative led by the Cree Board of Health and Social Services of James Bay (CBHSSJB) for the establishment of a mobile hospital, designed to meet the specific needs of Eeyou Istchee communities in emergency situations. This partnership reflects their leadership and vision to build response capacity in their region. 

This innovative project aims to improve access to health care during emergencies by effectively addressing critical needs, while incorporating culturally and logistically sensitive approaches to this northern territory. 

Through its experience, the Red Cross supports the CBHSSJB and the nine communities it serves in the development, deployment and continuity activities of this mobile hospital. In return, the CBHSSJB shares its knowledge to honour the realities of the northern climate, land, people and culture of the Cree.

Key accomplishments to date include:  

1. Planning phase:
  • Development of an execution strategy tailored to northern realities. Signing of formal agreements. 
  • Establishment of four specialized working groups, integrating the importance of culture and the teachings from elders, in order to manage the various dimensions of the project: management, operations and coordination; clinical care and public health; logistics, warehousing and transportation; and human resources preparation and training. 
2. Start of the implementation phase:
  • Creation of multiple standard operating procedures (SOPs), covering clinical management, logistics and staff training. 
  • Organization of workshops and training for the teams involved. 
  • Deployment of the mobile hospital to events such as the Eeyou Istchee Summer Games (July 2024).
3. Close collaboration with the Cree communities:
  • Regular meetings between partners to ensure strategic alignment. 
  • Knowledge sharing and integration of specific needs identified by the communities. 
  • Public involvement through invitations to come visit the sites during community visits. 
  • Creation of project videos to educate the public and remind those involved in this project of the process. 

Next steps

Winter equipment: Final signature has been obtained from CBHSSJB, which will allow procurement to proceed. 

Training development (2025): A customized curriculum will be put in place to prepare teams for the deployment of the mobile hospital. 

Full-scale simulations: Practical exercises are planned, not only to test the equipment but above all to allow the teams to familiarize themselves with its use in real-world conditions. 

Transition to an optimized collaboration structure: For the final stages of the project, a redesign of the work methods will identify the required experts to optimize production and the achievement of deliverables on an ongoing basis.


Discover this project with us:  

Group photo of people in front of a mobile hospital set up in a gymnasium.
Photo: John Falcon / Canadian Red Cross

A person pushing another person in a wheel chair in a mobile hospital.
Photo: John Falcon / Canadian Red Cross