(May 8, 2008) Saskatoon – Saskatoon Health Region is requesting an urgent meeting to discuss essential services requirements with local representatives of the Saskatchewan Union of Nurses (SUN). The Health Region, late yesterday afternoon, sent a letter asking that SUN indicate by 5 p.m. today its willingness to meet to discuss this important matter.
“In order to provide safe patient/client/care, it is paramount that we meet immediately to discuss our essential services requirements with the union so we can adequately prepare the health system for any potential job action that could happen,” says Bonnie Blakley, Vice President, People Strategies, Saskatoon Health Region.
“Our region has developed a strong working relationship with our local SUN representatives and strongly believes that they will work with us. However, in the event our union colleagues are unable to commit to providing the required essential services, we are not in a position to guarantee that we can provide safe care during any type of job action taken by the union,” says Blakley.
The extent of service reductions during any job action taken by the union will be determined in large part by the essential services agreement and support given by the union.
There are approximately 2800 in-scope (unionized) and 125 out-of-scope (management) nurses working with the Health Region’s 10 hospitals, 27, long term care facilities, 12 public health centres in 9 communities, numerous primary health centres, mental health and addictions sites, and in people’s homes.
On average, on any given day, for example nurses interact with:
- 800+ in-hospital patients including those in adult and pediatric intensive care, recovering from surgeries, other medical conditions such as heart and stroke, cancer treatment and palliative care
- 370 emergency department patients
- 2100 long term care residents
- 140 mental health and addictions clients receiving community-based care and services
- 135 primary health centre clients
- hundreds of home care clients receiving home IV antibiotic therapy, palliative care and complex wound, diabetic, medication assistance and chronic disease care, and
- dozens of children for immunization, developmental screening and parenting advice, numerous health promotion presentations in schools and community venues
- numerous students pursuing various careers in health care.
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For more information contact:
James Winkel
Corporate and Public Affairs Adviser
Saskatoon Health Region
306-655-3253
Saskatoon Health Region
“Healthiest people, healthiest communities, exceptional service.”
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