The University Health Network (UHN), one of Canada’s largest health-care and research institutions, has cut more than 40 registered nurses (RN) from “front-line patient care” across its Toronto hospitals, and nursing organizations say the reduction is “catastrophic for patients.”
The cuts are reportedly happening throughout several units at Toronto General Hospital and Toronto Western Hospital, including its hemodialysis unit and coronary intensive care unit.
The development of a dedicated 28-bed ALC unit at Toronto’s Western Hospital will support patients awaiting transfer to more appropriate settings, and patients who are currently dispersed across acute care areas, UHN told Now Toronto in a statement on Monday.
The new unit will offer a more suitable environment, including staffing that is tailored to the specific needs of its patients, according to the health-care organization.
As part of the changes, UHN says that some vacant roles were eliminated while the remainder will be managed through “attrition and early retirements,” and that “there will be no involuntary job loss.”
The health-care organization says that it continues to successfully recruit nurses and currently has “extremely low vacancy rates.” It also says that it remains “focused on delivering the highest standards of care while adapting to meet patient needs.”
Meanwhile, the move has sparked significant concern among health-care professionals, unions and organizations, who warn that such cuts may exacerbate existing RN shortages, while compromising patient care.
“These cuts will be catastrophic for patients. At a time when we desperately need more registered nurses, not fewer, UHN has made the decision to cut the expert care provided by front-line RNs,” Erin Ariss, a registered nurse and Ontario Nurses’ Association (ONA) president, said in a statement on June 11.
ONA says the cuts made by the health-care organization are aimed at “rejigging” its general internal medicine unit to create the 28-bed alternate level of care (ALC) unit. In addition, the ALC at UHN will have one RN to assist and support both registered practical nurses and personal support workers onsite.
The Nurse Practitioners’ Association of Ontario (NPAO), a not-for-profit organization offering a professional voice to more than 5,000 nurse practitioners in Ontario, says it is deeply concerned by the removal of nurses from UHN, citing the ongoing health-care strain in the province.
“Our current healthcare system is struggling to cope with the overwhelming demand for healthcare needs, especially among vulnerable and underserved communities. Removing positions for and reducing access to healthcare professionals will have negative impacts on patients,” NPAO told Now Toronto in a statement on Monday.
The NPAO says nurse practitioners, registered nurses, and registered practical nurses work closely with patients to provide timely, high-quality care, playing a critical role in closing gaps in the health-care system.
“There is no scenario where fewer RNs means better or more timely care for patients,” Ariss said.
While UHN adjusts by using its models to align with what it says are changing needs in patients, Ontario holds the lowest number of RNs per capita in Canada, and requires more than 25,000 to meet the national average, according to ONA.
Additionally, ONA warns that the loss may continue to grow over time for additional reasons, such as mounting workloads.
“We can expect more RNs to leave due to understaffing, impossible workloads and mental distress because they can’t provide the care that they know patients need and deserve,” Ariss added.
Despite concerns over the cuts, NPAO says it remains committed to working with the provincial government to advocate for the improved scope of care, flexible funding models, and increased support for retention of RNs across all health-care settings.
“Nursing care is integral to strong, reliable, and high-quality healthcare delivery in Toronto, Ontario, and across Canada.”
But ONA is calling on the Ford government to address the ongoing strain on Ontario’s health-care system through funding.
“The Ford government must step up and fully fund our public health-care system so such foolish RN cuts can be avoided. Employers must stop trying to balance the books at the expense of the expert, front-line care Ontarians need.”
