May 7, 2024
Will you implement mandatory nurse to patient ratios in Ontario?
QUEEN’S PARK —NDP Health critic France Gélinas (Nickel Belt) questioned the Minister of Health about her commitment to ending health care staff burn out and improving the quality of care in Ontario’s hospitals.
“Our healthcare system is in disarray, with no relief in sight. Patients, from sick babies to people needing palliative care face long waits in emergency rooms and overcrowded hospital. Minister, this doesn’t have to be the new normal in Ontario. British Columbia is implementing mandatory nurse to patient ratios in that province.
Will the Minister commit to improve patient and nurse outcomes and bring nurse to patient ratios in Ontario? “
France Gélinas and representatives from the province’s nurses gathered in the Queen’s Park media studio this morning to discuss her bill, the Patient-to-Nurse Ratios for Hospitals Act, 2024.
“The state of California implemented Nurse to patient ratios 25 years ago and the numbers speak for themselves. Better patient outcomes and less nurses burnout. Two challenges that this Minister of Health and Premier continue to ignore as they rush towards corporate for-profit delivery of our health services.
If this government really wants to improve Ontario’s health services, there is an easy first step: get started on Nurse to Patient ratios. Will the Minister do it?”