Nurses turn up the heat on Island Health!

July 31, 2014

BC Nurses' Union President Debra McPherson calls on IslandHealth to stop treating Nanaimo patients like second class citizens

In a new video released by BCNU today, nurses tell the horror stories of life inside Nanaimo Hospital and how they fear for their patients' lives, because they can't give them the kind of care and attention they need.

"Patients have lost 48,000 hours of nursing care here in Nanaimo," says McPherson. "So we have a question for Island Health CEO Dr. Brendan Carr: Why are Nanaimo patients being treated like second class citizens?"

Island Health has revamped the care model in Victoria. However, the health authority hasn't changed anything in Nanaimo.

McPherson says, "Patients are suffering - they're not getting the kind of bedside care they need, because nurses now have double the patient load. We know more patients are falling and mistakes are happening."

BCNU will deliver 3,000 more petitions to Island Health at its board meeting today at 1:00 pm. The union is also hosting a family fun day for nurses and supporters in Nanaimo before the meeting.

NURSES DELIVER GIANT CARD,
PETITIONS TO ISLAND HEALTH BOARD MEETING
1:00 pm - July 31
Oliver Woods Community Centre
6000 Oliver Road, Nanaimo

BCNU FAMILY FUN BBQ
11:30 am - July 31
Maffeo Sutton Park
10 Comox Road, Nanaimo