Private Health Care Will Hurt Ontarians: Ontario Nurses' Association Urgently Calls on Government to Consult Front-Line Providers
TORONTO, Feb. 4, 2019 /CNW/ - The privatization of parts of Ontario's health-care system has the Ontario Nurses' Association (ONA) deeply concerned about the impact on health-care professionals and patient care.
ONA is calling for the province to maintain the publicly delivered, publicly funded system and consult now with front-line health-care providers before implementing changes to the health-care system.
"ONA represents more than 65,000 registered nurses and health-care professionals delivering care across this province," notes ONA President Vicki McKenna, RN. "We are there at our patients' side throughout the health-care system, delivering high-quality care to those in hospitals, long-term care, in the community, in clinics, public health units and even in industry. It is absolutely vital that before any restructuring of health care occurs, the government consult with us."
McKenna adds that nurses know the challenges facing the province and has a wealth of knowledge and advice to offer. Nurses also know that privatizing health-care delivery will not benefit anyone but for-profit corporations.
"Experience in home-care delivery has shown us that private, for-profit delivery is detrimental to not only our clients but to taxpayers," said McKenna. "Why would any of us, as taxpayers, want our public dollars to go to for-profit companies?"
McKenna said that ONA is monitoring potential changes to the health-care system closely and is available to share front-line nurses' knowledge with government to improve the system.
ONA is the union representing more than 65,000 registered nurses and health-care professionals, as well as 18,000 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; www.Twitter.com/OntarioNurses
SOURCE Ontario Nurses' Association
Sheree Bond, (416) 964-8833, ext. 2430; cell: (416) 986-8240; [email protected]; Katherine Russo, (416) 964-8833, ext. 3314; cell: (647) 539-1925; [email protected]
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