As Ontario hospitals look to cut costs and eliminate positions, nursing advocates warn the province risks driving experienced nurses out of the public system and into private agencies, where they can earn more money while continuing to provide care. <\/p>\n
Lhamo Dolkar, a nurse practitioner and immediate past president of the Registered Nurses Association of Ontario (RNAO), said the association, which represents 58,000 RNs, nurse practitioners and nursing students, have been sounding the alarm about Ontario being one of the worst provinces with RN-to-population ratio. <\/p>\n
\u201cThis is our 11th year sounding the alarm. Why does it take organizations to keep sounding alarms for governments to listen?\u201d she said. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe have 26,000 fewer RNs per capita compared to other provinces. Removing that expertise in the field, this is all going to tie down to quality of care that is provided and also access and timeliness of the care they will get.\u201d<\/p>\n
The North Bay Regional Health Centre announced layoffs from RNAO, Canadian Union of Public Employees Union (CUPE) and Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) last month. <\/p>\n
Among those reductions were 10 RNs. Personal Support Workers and clerical staff were also hit with layoffs. <\/p>\n
\u201cHospitals are middle people, they are dependent on what the government is going to give them. There was an increase in funding, so we need to look at where funding is going,\u201d Dolkar told The Nugget. <\/p>\n
\u201cNurses are the lowest hanging fruit. Save $1 million laying off 10 nurses, but you\u2019re going to pay a lot more than $1 million in terms of quality of care. In the long run, it\u2019s not going to save you any.\u201d <\/p>\n
Dolkar said health centres try to find cheaper options, but the care will suffer. <\/p>\n
She said it shouldn\u2019t be about the money, rather providing the best quality of care by the right professionals. <\/p>\n
Health centres may be hiring, but they\u2019re not retaining, says Dolkar.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf the focus is on recruitment and retention how will it balance out if we are laying off people, putting new nurses in risky conditions,\u201d she added. <\/p>\n
\u201cThese health care workers will go to private agencies and still deliver the care. And get paid more.\u201d <\/p>\n
Dolkar noted the province has some great initiatives, such as the Ontario Learn and Stay Grant. <\/p>\n
She said the province is doing great things, but they\u2019re not doing it at the pace needed.<\/p>\n
The Ontario Learn and Stay Grant provides funding for students in priority postsecondary healthcare programs in underserved and growing communities across the province. One of those programs is the Registered Nursing Programs.<\/p>\n
Dolkar said one of the recommendations she would like to see considered is to bring nurses who are inactive back into the field to help mentor. <\/p>\n
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