A new academic study released by the Ontario Council of Hospital Unions and the Canadian Union of Public Employees finds health care workers in northwestern Ontario face a lot of anxiety due to COVID-19.
It states “the knowledge that these workers know that they are at increased risk of infection due to lack of protection which resulted in anger, frustration and a sense of violation that may have long-lasting implications,”
Co-author Michael Hurley says we need to realize that if health care workers aren’t kept safe and well, they can’t properly care for their patients and residents.
“More remote or rural regions of the province may be were able in the first phase to avoid the same level of exposure but as we continued in the pandemic, as we continue to make the same mistakes, gradually this is going to overtake us wherever we live unfortunately.”
Hurley says the province is not putting enough money into the health care system and we don’t have enough staff.
“COVID really exposes some of the key fundamental problems in the healthcare system. We have an extremely low level of staffing in hospitals and long term care.”
About 91% of those polled said they felt the government had abandoned them.
The study contained a number of recommendations including:
-raising staffing levels in hospitals and in long term care
-legislated protection to allow staff to speak out about conditions at work without reprisal
-the urgent need to rebuild a regulatory system that has failed health care workers
-providing access to the protective equipment staff require to be safe
-greater support from management and access to mental health supports.
The study was conducted back in April and May.
