Nurses' campaign delays controversial patient care model

The BC Nurses' Union welcomes Island Health's decision to delay a plan which would replace nurses with care aides at two Victoria hospitals.

"We are pleased Island Health has delayed implementation of this controversial patient care model," says BCNU President Debra McPherson. "It has failed in Nanaimo, where nurse-to- patient ratios have compromised professional standards and safe patient care. We would prefer Island Health cancel the new care model completely."

The BCNU recently launched a campaign against CDMR (care delivery model redesign). The controversial model was first rolled out at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital in September.

Nurses held rallies and protests and obtained more than 10,000 signatures on petitions demanding that CDMR be stopped.

The plan had called for 122 nurses to be replaced by care aides at Victoria General Hospital and Royal Jubilee Hospital on January 17, 2014. Island Health has announced it is delaying implementation until April 23.