The provincial government seems to be having
a tough time getting rid of the long waiting lists in our
hospitals.
Their biggest stumbling block appears to be
the $5.6 million deficit. Our shortage of nurses in Ontario
only adds to this problem. The Tory government was responsible
for cutting nurses' jobs.
According to the Registered Nurses
Association of Ontario, each year approximately 5,400 nurses go
to the United States or, to other provinces to secure full-time
jobs. Previously, 70 per cent of our nurses were working
full-time. Now that figure has dropped to 50 per cent.
How can we alleviate this problem without
putting the province further into debt and creating a saving at
the same time?
The hiring of 8,000 more nurses would cost
approximately $400 million over four years, or $100 million a
year. The hospitals are currently spending far more than that.
In the year 1998 - 1999, the acute care hospitals in Ontario
spent $171 million on overtime work and $19 million on nurses
hired through private agencies. This totals $190 million per
year, This exceeds what it would cost to hire 8,000 full time
nurses by $90 million.
Are you aware that in Ontario the number of
nurses on a per capita basis is below the national average? The
national average is 73 per 10,000 people. In Ontario, it is
only 65 per 10,000 people.
The provincial government has a golden
opportunity to improve the medical care in Ontario without
increasing our deficit. In fact, we would realize a
saving.
Let's get on with the job without undue
delay.
Clarence Soule
Sudbury