Arbitrator will determine if Island Health putting safe patient care at risk

The BC Nurses' Union will present strong evidence to an arbitrator that proves safe patient care is being put at risk at Nanaimo Hospital. During the hearings, nurses will reveal in detail how patient care has been negatively impacted.

BCNU President Gayle Duteil says, "This is a serious dispute which at its core impacts safe patient care. Nurses have professional standards they are legally required to meet or their licences can be revoked. In this arbitration, we're saying Island Health cannot use a care model which jeopardizes patient safety and compromises nurses? professional standards."

The problems began when Nanaimo hospital started using CDMR or care delivery model redesign two years ago. It was untested and no evidence of its effectiveness has been given to the public. Instead, there was a lack of truthfulness and Island Health gave conflicting information to the union and the public.

"CDMR is all about saving money on the backs of patients," says Duteil. "Patients are being used as guinea pigs in a flawed experiment which has failed. We fear that with intense budget pressures, more hospitals across BC will use it as a template for cost cutting. That's why it must be stopped."

Nurse Kelley Charters says, "Dozens of nurses have been replaced by care aides at Nanaimo Hospital. Patient loads have doubled, so nurses don't have the time to properly assess patients, medications are missed - all of which conflicts with providing safe patient care and nurses' professional standards."

The case is unique in Canada because it challenges managements' right to assign many patients to a nurse, regardless of whether it forces nurses to work below their professional standards of practice. If the arbitrator rules in BCNU's favour, patients will receive better care with appropriate staffing. The arbitrators' orders are enforceable by the courts.