The Ontario Public Service Employees Union says the McGuinty Liberal government’s planned integration of the health care system has to include full consultation with front-line workers.
OPSEU also welcomed Health Minister George Smitherman’s announcement of a full review of the failed system of managed competition in community care. The union has been lobbying for a comprehensive review of this process throughout 2004 but also wants a moratorium on contracting out.
OPSEU members are concerned that the planned creation of Local Health Integration Networks (LHINs) could mean layoffs, privatization, and disruptions in patient care. “Is the Minister just going to create another level of senior bureaucrats, or is he going to properly fund and fix the system?” asked OPSEU President Leah Casselman,
representing more than 30,000 health care workers in all parts of the system.
Casselman noted the seven experts on the Minister’s team did not include any front-line workers. “We represent people right across the system and he hasn’t spoken to us about these plans. We want to see front-line workers from all areas of health care involved more closely in the process.”
“Although the Minister referred to the need for teamwork, he needs to acknowledge and deal with the critical shortages of health professionals other than doctors and nurses. This will go a long way to resolving the wait time issue.”
While OPSEU does not oppose integration of the health care system, its members are wary of unelected bodies controlling huge regional health care budgets.
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For further information:
David Cox 416-443-8888 x 314
