The Ontario Nurses’ Association (ONA) says that Lakeridge Health has issued lay-off notices to eight full-time and six part-time registered nurses (RNs) as the hospital seeks to balance its budget.
ONA President Vicki McKenna says the news is “incredibly disappointing and disheartening,” especially since it comes during a pandemic which she says is far from over.
“This is the second time in the space of a week that a large Greater Toronto Area hospital is opting to put money over care,” says McKenna. “Lakeridge Health is cutting RNs who provide high quality care to patients in the acute medicine unit, surgical program and most alarmingly, the infectious disease clinic. It’s truly outrageous that this is the route that management is taking to balance the budget and the residents of Durham Region who rely on Lakeridge for their health-care needs should be very alarmed.”
“I am dumbfounded that in the midst of a pandemic, when Ontarians are out thanking front-line nurses for their incredible dedication, courage and skills, that Toronto Rehab and now, Lakeridge Health is cutting the very people who make a difference to their patients’ health outcomes and provide such good value,” McKenna concluded. “ONA is calling on this government to stop the RN cuts now and urging Ontarians to do the same. This is too important to everyone to stay silent.”
