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March 20, 2001
Attention Legislative Press Gallery and other media:
Nurses to highlight dysfunction in dealing with health care crisis
Nurses’ news conference
Wednesday March 21 - 10:30 am
Harbour Towers Hotel, Victoria
Room 203 |
The BC Nurses’ Union will hold a news conference near the Legislature tomorrow (Wednesday March 21) to highlight the major dysfunction in the way British Columbia is dealing with hospital closures and service cuts due to the nursing shortage.
The problem is especially serious in the wake of the recent 24 to 48-hour closings of emergency wards at the two largest hospitals in the province - Vancouver General and St. Paul’s - because there weren’t enough nurses to staff beds elsewhere in the hospital. Across the province, the care of patients is undermined frequently by cancelled surgeries, transfers to other communities and cuts in other health care services because of the nursing shortage.
Unfortunately, because of the structure of the health employers’ bargaining team, BC’s health care system is not equipped to respond effectively to the crisis caused by the nursing shortage.
Action must be taken now. At the news conference, nurses will be asking both the provincial government and the Official Opposition for their support in bringing about the necessary changes.
BC nurses say that BC must increase nurses’ pay significantly, to enable this province to compete globally to retain and recruit the nurses needed here during the international nursing shortage.
The recent settlement negotiated with nurses in Alberta will mean BC will lose more nurses.
The news conference starts at 10:30 am at the Harbour Towers Hotel - Room 203 - 345 Quebec St., Victoria.
For more information contact:
| Art Moses BCNU Communications coordinator |
604-868-4259 |
| Debra McPherson, BCNU president-elect |
604-209-4253 |
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