Mr. Justice Archie Campbell’s interim report on the SARS crisis echoes OPSEU’s consistent warnings about cuts to public health and the health care system.
OPSEU President Leah Casselman praised Campbell for listening to health care workers to get to the heart of what went wrong, and what went right, in dealing with SARS.
“This is Walkerton all over again: Our members warned about the failings of the system, and the Harris government ignored them. The result was another needless crisis,” Casselman said.
“This report clearly indicates the importance of investing in public services, and it outlines the consequences if we as a society fail to make these investments. We agree with Justice Campbell that only the dedication and commitment of front line health care workers enabled a broken system to contain SARS. We look forward to Campbell’s findings
on occupational health and safety in a later report.”
In particular, in October 2001, OPSEU strongly and repeatedly warned the public against the unpreparedness of the provincial public health laboratory due, in part, to the layoff of the last five public health scientists. In his report, Campbell sharply criticized the Ministry of Health for its handling of the provincial public health laboratory,
and called for the revitalization of this facility.
The interim report reiterates many of the concerns voiced by OPSEU members before, during, and after the crisis. It recommends among other items:
· strengthening the role of “ health care workers (beyond nurses and doctors) and their unions” in protecting public health;
· the need for renewal and proper funding of public health;
· the uploading of accountability, direction and control to the province.
“Despite this report, however, our members still feel the Ministry of Health does not understand the important role health care workers other than nurses and doctors played during this crisis, and their ongoing superhuman efforts to keep the health care system together,” Casselman said.
OPSEU represents 29,000 health care workers across Ontario.
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For further information:
David Cox, OPSEU Communications, 1-800-268-7376 x 314
