The woman who led a campaign to upgrade the health-care system in western Quebec more than 10 years ago says a lack of leadership has allowed the system to deteriorate.

Things are to the point where one of every three or four people needing treatment now heads across the river to Ottawa hospitals and clinics, said Geraldine Hutton, the former head of the Outaouais Health and Social Services Board.

Hutton told CBC News Tuesday the number of people crossing for treatment in Ottawa had been reduced to just one in seven by 1997 when she retired.

"In '86 we started developing services, and until '97, when I left, we kept bringing in new services."

During that time, hospitals were able to recruit extra doctors and nurses, and were successful in getting new equipment, she said.

"By 1998 … one out of seven people was going to Ottawa, as opposed to one out of two 12 or 13 years before."

Since she left, Hutton said, there have been no local leaders willing to fight for the Outaouais health-care system.

For instance, in the past eight years, the hospitals have had a series of six directors general.

Now the old problems are back, Hutton said, and time is running out.

"We've not fallen too far behind, but leave it another three years and we will have."