Over 30 registered nurses with Muskoka Algonquin Healthcare (MAHC) rallied in front of the hospitals in Bracebridge and Huntsville on Friday to demand workplace changes.
Ruth Shaw, president of the local bargaining unit, met with Cheryl Harrison, president and chief executive officer of MAHC, and other senior management members. She was joined by a few nurses for the hour-long meeting at the South Muskoka Memorial Hospital in Bracebridge.
“We’re just advocating for our staff to deliver the best patient care to our communities,” said Shaw after the meeting ended.
She explained the discussion centred around staff recruitment and retention.
“It’s no secret there’s a staff shortage across the province and country but we believe we can find solutions and we want to be part of that conversation with leadership to find those solutions to get nurses here and keep them here,” said Shaw.
In a statement provided to the MyMuskokaNow.com newsroom, Harrison reaffirmed MAHC’s commitment to maintaining a “supportive and safe working environment” for everyone.
“Our ongoing dedication to fostering healthy workplace conditions includes building strong, constructive relationships with our unions through regular and meaningful discussions,” said Harrison. “We continue to collaborate with these and other stakeholders to ensure that our approach addresses concerns comprehensively and effectively.”
According to the ONA, a letter signed by just under 90 percent of the registered nurses with MAHC was delivered to Harrison, Melissa Bilodeau, director of nursing, clinical services and chief nursing executive, and Diane George, vice president of integrated patient care.
During the meeting, those who weren’t allowed inside the boardroom waited in the nearby cafeteria. They unfurled a banner saying “RNs: Staff Us, Retain Us” that was signed by many of the nurses that attended the rallies.
Erin Arris, provincial president of the Ontario Nuses’ Association (ONA), was one of those eagerly waiting to find out the results of the meeting.
“As nurses, we are patient advocates first,” said Ariss. “We know that patients rely on their health care, and we have clearly spelled out to the executives what this organization needs to do immediately to fix staffing and nurse retention issues at MAHC that threaten patient care.”
She added there needs to be more of a commitment from Premier Doug Ford, specifically in rural and Northern Ontario.
Notably, Ariss called on Ford to legislate nurse-to-patient ratios, make nursing schools tuition-free, and make it so nursing placements are paid like for medicine, trades, and policing.
In the lead-up to the discussion, Shaw said she had no issues getting the ear of MAHC senior management.
“We’re looking forward to having a return meeting to discuss resolutions,” said Shaw.