Nurses' union says SAH cuts detrimental

NEWS RELEASE

ONTARIO NURSES' ASSOCIATION

"While the hospital has eliminated these valuable RNs on the front lines of care, it has simultaneously created 16 new supervisor positions," notes ONA President Linda Haslam-Stroud, RN. "Once again, we are seeing hospital funding cuts impact those who provide hands-on care at the expense of our patients."

The cuts impact patients receiving care in Sault Area Hospital's hemodialysis unit, operating room, intensive care unit, oncology unit and surgical unit.

"In addition, an infection control nurse is being cut, at a time when influenza, Ebola, and other infection diseases are high on our radar," says Haslam-Stroud. 

Two full-time oncology nurse navigators who assist cancer patients through their journey have been eliminated.

All four Patient Care Coordinators who support nurses and collaborate with other health care multi-disciplinary team members in running our Nursing units efficiently, decreasing our wait times and access to care, are being replaced by hospital supervisors.

Haslam-Stroud adds that, "No one can replace the valuable skills of a registered nurse at the bedside. Sault residents are just the latest to lose more than 45,000 hours per year of quality RN care because of budget cuts. I urge residents to speak to their MPPs and write to the Health Minister to protest the loss of quality patient care."

ONA is the union representing 60,000 registered nurses and allied health professionals, as well as more than 14,000 nursing student affiliates providing care in hospitals, long-term care, the community, public health, clinics and industry.

Sault Area Hospital moves ahead with job cuts

http://www.sootoday.com/content/news/details.asp?c=85451Union disappointed by SAH layoffs