News Releases    

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 30, 2003

Underfunded and shortstaffed health care system led to spread of SARS: OPSEU
Hospitals should not be "vectors of contagion"

TORONTO - The Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU), says underfunding, staff shortages, lack of crisis preparedness and poor infection control practices let Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) get out of control.

OPSEU, representing about 28,000 health care workers across Ontario, including 15,000 hospital professionals, told the SARS Inquiry its members were ignored and disrespected throughout the SARS crisis. Furthermore, they were asked to work with improper or no personal protective equipment, and were sent into situations where they would be at risk.

“Our members were, again and again, needlessly put in harm’s way,” said OPSEU President Leah Casselman.

OPSEU said the emphasis on economic concerns was disturbing to its members. “It was shocking to hear our members being told not to wear masks because ‘it sends out the wrong message’ at a time when no-one really knew how this disease was spread, nor how virulent SARS is,” Casselman said.

Patty Rout, Vice Chair of the Health Care Divisional Council of OPSEU, described how hundreds of diverse hospital professionals, who were virtually ignored in the directives, managed to deal with the SARS crisis in hospitals and other health facilities. Members of the OPSEU Locals at The Scarborough Hospital also spoke about daily life at TSH during the two SARS outbreaks.

OPSEU will be submitting a detailed written brief later. Its broad recommendations include the need for government and employers to:

1) Develop a workable crisis plan in all our health care facilities for dealing with contagious diseases.

2) Re-think the extent to which the “business model” has invaded our health care facilities.

3) Create full-time, permanent employment for all health care workers, not just doctors and nurses.

4) Take quick action now to stem the acute shortages of health care professionals by recruiting to the professions and encouraging retention.

5) Improve organization and communication in times of crisis, so local unions are not forced to do management’s job.

6) Respect and understand the work of all members of the health care team, not just doctors and nurses. We need to include all health care workers in the decision-making process.

7) Stop putting the economy and money before worker health and safety: If we don’t take care of health care workers’ health and safety on the job, patient care is compromised. If contagion is properly controlled, the economic issues simply go away.

8) Encourage more active involvement by the Ministry of Labour at every stage to protect the health and safety of the health care workers without whom the whole structure would collapse.

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For further information, please contact:

David Cox, OPSEU Communications, 416-788-9197