This letter to the editor was sent to EloraFergusToday.com by Peter van Vloten in regard to the healthcare crisis in Ontario.
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Dear Editor,
Ontario’s health care system is in crisis. Experienced nurses and support workers are leaving at three times the pre-pandemic rate - overworked, stressed and unable to meet their profession’s patient care standards. Hospitals are closing emergency departments, ICUs and obstetrics units due to lack of staff. Even at Groves! Paramedics are off the road for hours, waiting for their patients to be admitted.
Mr. Ford promised to eliminate “hallway medicine”, but is focused on other things. Cutting nurses’ wages with Bill 124 (the 1% cap is a de facto cut), while giving 88 per cent of his PC caucus, including Mr. Arnott, wage increases from $16,600 to $49,350. Subsidizing the auto sector, building unnecessary highways and giving mayors more power all take priority over the healthcare crisis for Mr. Ford.
Ontario spends less per capita on healthcare than any other province! It has the fewest RNs and staffed hospital beds per capita. Mr. Ford has underspent his own healthcare budget.
Rather than retaining experienced nurses and encouraging those who have left to return, Ms. Jones, Ford’s Health Minister, wants colleges to certify more foreign trained nurses. But there aren’t enough experienced nurses left working to mentor them or even new nursing graduates.
Mr. Arnott “hopes to speak to the minister” when the Legislature resumes. We don’t need hope. We need to retain and bring back our healthcare heroes by repealing Bill 124, improving work hours and sick days, funding more support staff and demonstrating respect for health care workers, including nurses.
We need urgency and action from this Premier.
Peter van Vloten
