Nursing doesn't have to be dangerous work: ONA calls for action after another violent attack

NEWMARKET, ON, Dec. 8, 2014 /CNW/ - The Ontario Nurses' Association (ONA) is pressing the Ministry of Labour to issue charges following yet another violent attack on a nurse at Southlake Regional Health Centre.

ONA and the RN are holding Southlake Regional responsible for failing to ensure the safety of staff. This was yet another serious incident in this hospital's ER; in 2013, the same hospital had another serious attack that resulted in a nurse suffering injuries.

"Once again, our members recognized in advance the volatile nature of the situation and asked for security's help," said Linda Haslam-Stroud, RN. "Once again, they were left without help and suffered the consequences."

In this incident, emergency department staff called to ask for help from security when they recognized they were in peril due to potentially volatile situation and went to the security office to request backup.

"Southlake Regional Health Centre continues to show disregard for health and safety laws and the safety of its nurses," believes Haslam-Stroud. "We are asking the Ministry of Labour to issue charges against Southlake Regional for failing to fulfill its duty to keep staff safe."

Workplace violence is growing in the province; ONA has had reports of hundreds of attacks on nurses in major hospitals in Ontario this year alone.

"Enough is enough," said Haslam-Stroud. "Nursing doesn't have to be dangerous work. If Southlake isn't safe for staff how can it be safe for patients and families? ONA expects to see action from the Ministry of Labour and the police."

ONA is the union representing 60,000 registered nurses and allied health professionals, as well as more than 14,000 nursing student affiliates, providing care in hospitals, long-term care facilities, public health, the community, clinics and industry.

Visit us at: www.ona.org; Facebook.com/OntarioNurses; Twitter.com/OntarioNurses

SOURCE: Ontario Nurses' Association

Ontario Nurses' Association, Sheree Bond, [phone], ext. 2430; Cell: [phone]; [email protected]; Ken Marciniec, [phone], ext. 2306; Cell: [phone]; [email protected]