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Nurses are outraged minister expects health staff to do more
with less, when they're already severely stretched
In difficult economic times governments should be working to improve healthcare and other important public services, not cutting them back, because people need them more than ever
Nurses are outraged with Health Minister Kevin Falcon's letter to health authorities instructing them to "do more with less".
"In difficult economic times governments should be working to improve healthcare and other important public services, not cutting them back, because people need them more than ever," says Debra McPherson, president of the BC Nurses' Union. "Instead the government isn't giving its health authorities enough to even keep what we've got. They're telling people working in healthcare to do more with less when we're already stretched to the limit with excessive amounts of overtime leading to increased rates of illness, injury and burn out among nurses.
"Given the difficulties caused by higher unemployment and the deterioration of retirement funds, British Columbians need to know the health care system and other public services are there to assist them in tough times, when there are always increases in domestic violence, addictions and other stresses."
McPherson says the government is sending out distinctly mixed messages: "They've appointed the biggest cabinet in history and are running a large deficit themselves, yet they're telling health authorities they can't run a deficit of their own to protect and improve healthcare services. Instead they're forcing the health authorities to cut important services and programs for British Columbians."
For example,
- the Fraser and Vancouver Coastal Health Authorities have both announced the cancellation of up to 2,000 elective surgeries each "because of the Olympics"
- FHA is considering the closure of Mission Memorial ER and of Fraser Canyon Hospital
- The Vancouver Island Health Authority is considering closing hospital beds, reducing hip and knee surgeries,
and downgrading emergency rooms
- The Interior Health Authority is cutting back on hiring new nursing graduates, and considering reducing drug rehab programs and rural healthcare programs
- The Northern Health Authority is displacing staff and reducing nursing care through a restriction on overtime
McPherson says health authorities and government should be working with nurses and other providers on how best to respond to the budget challenge, instead of deciding how to cut services behind closed doors.
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