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February 27, 2004 OPEN LETTER

The Honourable George Smitherman, MPP
Minister of Health
10th Floor, Hepburn Block
80 Grosvenor St.
Toronto, ON M7A 2C4

Dear Minister:

OPSEU represents about 12,000 medical professionals in more than 100 hospitals throughout the province. Our members include medical laboratory technologists, laboratory technicians, medical radiation technologists, pharmacists, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, respiratory therapists, and other hospital medical professionals.

On Feb. 24 you announced a $385-million bailout for Ontario’s hospitals. Part of that one-time funding was $50-million tied to the hiring of full-time nurses. While OPSEU hospital professionals applaud this, we wonder why there was no money for hiring other hospital professionals to ease the shortages. Shortages of diagnostic, therapeutic and rehabilitative hospital professionals are as critical as are shortages of nurses. There was no requirement in the announcement to hire more full-time anyone, besides nurses.

You said hospitals must use this money to work to reduce wait times for important procedures such as cardiac care, cancer care and hip and knee replacements. Yet there was no acknowledgement that our members are involved in all of these procedures. Without more diagnostic, therapeutic and rehabilitative professionals, waiting times cannot be reduced.

In ignoring our members, you sent them a clear signal that nurses are the one essential element of the health care system, and no other profession matters. Our members are an essential part of the health care team and face severe shortages. These shortages impair their ability to do their work and provide the finest patient care.

We commissioned a poll of our members in Nov. 2002 on the effect of shortages on their professions. The survey polled 608 medical laboratory technologists, laboratory technicians, medical radiation technologists, pharmacists, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, respiratory therapists, and other hospital medical professionals.

Of these, 78 per cent said staff shortages are hurting patient care.

The survey also found that:

· One in five professionals thought they were making too many mistakes because of staff shortages and difficult working conditions.

· One in five were aware of at least one instance in the previous six months where a patient’s condition had worsened because staff were unable to provide test results or care in a timely manner.

· Nearly half feel patients are waiting longer for test results than they were three years ago.

· Almost all (92.8 per cent) said their workload had increased but staffing levels had remained the same or declined in recent years.

· They are expected to work faster (82 per cent), being responsible for more patients (78 per cent), covering for absent co-workers more frequently (78 per cent), and performing more complex tests and procedures (63 per cent).

These shortages, confirmed in studies by the Michener Institute and the Ontario Hospital Association, are getting worse. Many of our members are retiring and not enough people are attracted due to the lack of recognition and worsening working conditions. They are being stretched beyond their limits with staff shortages. Without addressing these shortages, your goals of reducing patient waiting times will not succeed.

Minister, please keep in mind that thousands of hospital professionals are looking to you to ease these severe shortages, so they can do their jobs. While we have immense respect for the work of nurses and doctors, we are tired of being the forgotten health care workers. We need action and recognition, now, for our members who are such essential elements of the health care team.

In solidarity,

(original signed by)
Leah Casselman
President

Politics and Your Health Care Profession Index

Ontario Public Service Employees Union, 100 Lesmill Rd. Toronto, ON M3B 3P8  (416) 443-8888  www.opseu.org     

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