A bed in the Emergency Department at Toronto's Hospital for Sick Children is cleaned after a patient visit on Wednesday, November 30, 2022. (The Canadian Press)
A new report paints a troubling picture of Ontario's healthcare system, revealing that the morale among healthcare workers is in serious decline. The study, released on Monday, highlights a worsening staffing crisis that is jeopardizing both the well-being of hospital staff and the quality of patient care.
Dr. James Brophy, a researcher involved in the study, expressed deep concerns, stating, "This study found that our cherished public health-care system is in serious trouble." The report underscores the mounting fears hospital workers face daily, often feeling unable to provide adequate care due to severe understaffing.
The research, which involved 26 detailed interviews with Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Ontario hospital staff and a survey of 775 additional workers, reveals grim working conditions. The identities of those interviewed were kept confidential to ensure their safety. One outpatient clinic nurse described the situation, saying, "We hardly have time to take breaks or go to the washroom. I don't think that patients are getting the care they need."
The study highlights a shift from enthusiasm to dread among nurses. One trauma department nurse shared their struggle, "You think it can’t get any worse and it just got worse." Another described experiencing panic attacks and crying before work due to the stress of the job.
Dr. Brophy pointed out that many respondents are dealing with depression, physical exhaustion, and burnout, reflecting a broader issue affecting healthcare workers across Canada. Similar issues were reported in Saskatchewan last fall, where a survey found that three out of five registered nurses considered leaving the field due to poor working conditions, and over 90% felt their mental health was negatively impacted.
Ontario's report, gathered last fall, comes after a summer marked by record-breaking emergency room closures and service disruptions. Michael Hurley, president of CUPE's Ontario Council of Hospital Unions, noted that underfunding, understaffing, deregulation and privatization have all contributed to the strain on workers. "Over time, this just corrodes people," Hurley said.
As the crisis deepens, there is growing concern that more nurses might leave the profession. To address these issues, British Columbia is considering implementing a minimum nurse-patient ratio to ease workloads and improve retention. Tristan Newby, vice president of the BC Nurses’ Union, cited positive outcomes from similar measures in places like California and Australia. "They endure fewer workplace injuries, fewer medication errors, and lower rates of hospital-acquired infections," Newby explained.
Currently, some departments in B.C. need help with a severe shortage of staff, with one unit operating at less than half its baseline staffing. Under the proposed minimum ratio, there would be at least one nurse for every four patients in medical and surgical units at all times. Newby stated that this change would help ensure a higher standard of care, rather than merely "limping along."
