Nurses say understaffing resulting in unsafe work environment at Winchester hospital’s birthing unit

Nursing shortages at Winchester District Memorial Hospital’s birth unit are creating unsafe working conditions that could potentially put patients at risk, the Ontario Nurses’ Association says.

Nurses at the hospital have been providing documentation to hospital officials since 2021 detailing their concerns about the impact of ongoing staff shortages, “to no avail,” says the nursing association.

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“They have clearly outlined the impact of inadequate (registered nurse) staffing on their ability to provide the safe, ethical, quality care that patients deserve and that is required of them to meet professional practice standards,” said ONA President Erin Ariss in a statement.

The nursing association, which is the union that represents 68,000 registered nurses and health professionals across the province, said as a “last resort”, an independent panel has been called to assess the professional responsibility and workload issues raised by the nurses.

The independent assessment committee will hold hearings this week and will later make non-binding recommendations. Calling such a panel is something that falls under the nurses’ collective agreement, said ONA First Vice-President Angela Preocanin. The three-person panel includes an independent nursing expert and representatives of the hospital and union.

Preocanin said there has been a steady increase in births at the rural hospital 45 kilometres south of Ottawa since 2021. She also said the obstetrical unit has had unfilled vacancies for two registered nurses since 2007.

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“They are unable to manage the increased activity. Coverage for vacation doesn’t happen because there is no vacation (for nurses). On many occasions, one nurse is working by herself,” she said. “When they are two (registered nurses) short all the time, it starts creating staffing concerns that end up being patient care concerns.”

The use of independent assessment committees to review nurses’ concerns about their working conditions is generally seen as a last resort, said Preocanin, but they have become more common lately.

“More units are coming forward and saying ‘We can’t work like this anymore’,” she said.

In a statement, Winchester District Memorial Hospita CEO Cholly Boland said patient and staff safety “is our top priority, and we encourage and listen to workplace concerns. For 75 years, WDMH has been proud to provide a safe and caring birthing experience for families in our region. Our registered nurses are integral to that care.”

Over the past two years, Winchester’s five-bed birthing unit has had to temporarily close for a total of 763 hours because of staff shortages, said Preocanin. The hospital’s birthing centre also includes seven beds for postpartum mothers and babies, she said.

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Meanwhile, she said, nurses are exhausted.

“The burnout that is happening in this unit has been noted by members. They are very exhausted and morally distressed because of working conditions. When they go home can they honestly say they gave the best care they can give, or was it just enough?”

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