ONA President Erin Ariss, seen here speaking at our all-out hospital bargaining rally in Toronto in January, and our members who are used to fighting the OHA for fair contracts; this time, we’re agreeing with their call to government.
It’s hard to believe that ONA is in agreement with some recent comments from the Ontario Hospital Association (OHA) after the disrespect they showed our members during the last round (and let’s face it, most rounds) of provincial hospital bargaining.
But here we are.
Let me explain. Recently, the OHA publicly stated that the province’s hospitals need an additional $1 billion this year from the Ford government to keep pace with factors such as population growth and inflation. And we can’t argue with that.
However, that’s not the whole situation, as far as ONA is concerned. Along with this much-needed funding boost, we also need transparency about how our public dollars are being spent by those hospital CEOs. Or else what’s the point?
Unfortunately, and flying in the face of mountains of evidence, our hospital CEOs have again and again allocated funding to hire more managers, new information technology schemes and capital projects. Our public dollars are also increasingly being funneled into for-profit clinics, which is very definitely not what we need and want.
The evidence and experience of other jurisdictions has repeatedly shown that real efficiencies and improved care come from investing funding in recruitment and retention of front-line care providers in the public health-care system.
More nurses and health-care professionals on the front lines improves the bottom line.
More nurses and health-care professionals on the front lines improves the bottom line – reducing absenteeism and expensive staff turnover, and both speeding and improving patient care. And that is very definitely what we need and want.
So, yes, while we are joining the OHA in demanding more hospital funding, we also demand increased accountability from the bosses who spend it.
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