The Ontario Nurses’ Association says cutting Registered Nurses will put patients and staff at the Royal Ottawa and the Brockville Mental Health Centre at risk.
In a statement, issued Tuesday, the ONA says “Royal Ottawa is cutting two full-time and five part-time RN positions on its Forensic Rehabilitation Unit; Brockville is cutting seven full-time and two part-time RN positions in its Forensic Treatment Unit.”
The ONA says it fears the cuts would increase workplace violence, and cites a case from October, 2014, in which an RN was stabbed in the throat by a patient at the Brockville Centre. The Ministry of Labour has charged Royal Ottawa Health Group with five infractions under the Occupational Health and Safety Act in connection with that case.
ONA First Vice-President, and Registered Nurse, Vicky McKenna tells CFRA’s Ottawa Now with Evan Solomon it’s a worrisome trend.
“These situations keep me awake at night,” McKenna says. “But the reality is that for the staff and other patients in organizations like [The Royal Ottawa and Brockville Mental Health Centre], and others across this province, we’re seeing increases in violence. In particular, units like these two have much higher incidences because of the patient population that they’re treating, and the fear and anxiety and the mental health conditions of the people that are there. They require more support, not less.”
The Royal Ottawa says it does not believe a recent “skill mix review” will result in the loss of any RN jobs.
The Royal says in a statement to CFRA that while 14.1 full-time equivalent (FTE) positions will be cut across both units in Ottawa and Brockville, 18 FTEs will be added.
Ottawa will see a reduction of 4.8 RN and 1.4 Orderly FTEs. Brockville will see a reduction of 7.9 RN FTEs. The increases will amount to 7 FTE Registered Practical Nurses in Ottawa and 11 RPNs in Brockville.
The Royal says “We are not expecting that this will result in any loss of RNs jobs. While this initiative involves reassignment of RNs, we are required by the ONA Collective Agreement to use ‘layoff’ language.
“As a result of the ONA Collective Agreement ‘layoff’ language, it means we are required to offer early retirement to those eligible, voluntary exits and moves to vacant positions. Following a detailed analysis, we believe that at the end of the day, there are sufficient vacancies within the new schedule in the Forensic Program, or within other program areas of The Royal, to maintain employment for all impacted RN positions.”
The ONA says 1,600 RN jobs have been cut across Ontario in the past 23 months.
The Ministry of Health and Long-term Care has not yet responded to a request for comment.