October 23rd, 2020
October 23rd, 2020
QUEEN’S PARK – A horrific attack on a nurse that fractured her skull and caused brain bleeding has not prompted the Ford government to lift a finger to make nurses safer at work, said NDP Health critic France Gélinas.
On Wednesday, Gélinas asked the government about the horrific attack at Southlake Regional Health Centre — which the Ontario Nurses’ Association says has changed the nurse’s life forever. The hospital was fined just $100,000, and no changes have been made to protect nurses and other health care workers at Southlake, or any other health facilities in Ontario.
“How can Doug Ford and Christine Elliott hear about horrible violence against health care workers, and take no action at all to make them safer at work?” Gélinas asked. “Unions, and professional associations have been ringing the alarm bells for years. Eighty per cent of all nurses will be assaulted at work during their career. Violence against nurses has been normalized in our hospitals and in our long-term-care homes, while this government, this minister of labour, this minister of health and this premier do nothing.”
Ontario Nurses Association President Vicki McKenna said more accountability and change is needed.
“It is difficult to express just how horrifying, disheartening and infuriating this is. The attack has been life-changing for the RN and security. The fines imposed by Justice Prutschi do not hold Southlake accountable for the violence that occurred. We do not believe this is a deterrent for this employer and this does nothing to compel this employer, or any employer, to protect its employees,” said McKenna.
The registered nurse injured at Southlake sustained two skull fractures, a concussion and brain bleeds. In her victim impact statement, the nurse told the hearing that her future was uncertain.