The Ontario Public Service Employees Union is asking Ontarians, “Have you been consulted?” in radio ads, print ads and household flyers, as another round of health care restructuring is about to be imposed on staff and patients.
The Liberals’ decision to create 14 Local Health Integration Networks (LHINs) could mean layoffs, privatization, and disruptions in patient care, OPSEU says.
“The problem is we do not know the scope, the mandate, the accountability or the impact of these networks on staff and patients,” said OPSEU President Leah Casselman, representing more than 30,000 workers in all parts of the health care system.
“The government has made the decision to create these LHINs without any input from either health care workers or patients. We have already seen how badly similar models have worked: The Community Care Access Centres (CCACs) have created chaos in the home care sector and driven out needed professional staff. Do we need a larger version
creating instability in the greater health care sector?”
While the union does not oppose integration of the health care system, Casselman is wary of unelected bodies that could control huge regional health care budgets, with free rein to cut, merge, or sell our health care services.
“Health care workers and their patients need the answers now.”
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For more information:
David Cox, OPSEU Communications, 1-800-268-7376 x 314
