KITCHENER, February 27, 2019 – Despite reassurances from hospital leaders, the Ontario Nurses’ Association (ONA) says that cuts to registered nurses, Nurse Practitioners, beds and services announced by Grand River Hospital will adversely impact patient care.

“It is very clear – cutting registered nurses from in-patient surgery, the adult mental health unit, renal and adult surgical units and geriatrics hurts patient care,” said ONA President Vicki McKenna, RN. “Cutting RNs from their role as diabetic educators, from their role as lactation consultants – not to mention closing four beds in the in-patient mental health unit – is certainly going to have a negative impact on the patients who rely on those services and high-quality care. Saying otherwise is simply wrong.”

McKenna notes that many of the services and staff cuts will impact women’s and babies’ health. “Many of the cuts are in unfunded clinics, which are mainly those for women and children. This is leaving some of our most vulnerable patients – including newborn babies – without services, thereby leaving them to go to the emergency department for care.”

In total, Grand River Hospital is cutting 25 full-time and 15 part-time registered nurses.

“With hallway health care an issue across the province, RN cuts are simply wrong,” said McKenna. “I encourage everyone who cares about access to high-quality care to contact their local MPP and the health minister to speak out against RN cuts now.”

ONA is the union representing more than 65,000 registered nurses and health-care professionals, as well as 18,000 nursing student affiliates, providing care in hospitals, long-term care facilities, public health, the community, clinics and industry.

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