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“The Wynne government sold the public on the idea of urgent care centres to relieve pressure on the ERs, now they appear to be flip-flopping in Kingston and sending patients back to an overloaded KGH,” says Thomas.
Kingston (17 Mar. 2014) — Kingston’s Hotel Dieu Hospital needs to confirm or deny the existence of a plan to reduce hours at its downtown Urgent Care Centre says the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU/NUPGE).
Kingston hospital rumoured to be cutting Urgent Care Centre hours
The Kingston Health Coalition wrote to CEO Dr. David Pichora on March 8 asking him to release a consultant’s report that purportedly recommends closing the urgent care centre at 8 p.m., two hours earlier than the current scheduled closure time. Hospital staff believe the shortened hours could be implemented as early as May.
“If true this represents a significant change in service,” says Warren (Smokey) Thomas, representing the 130,000 members of OPSEU/NUPGE. “The South East LHIN and the hospital need to open this up to public debate rather than make this decision in secret and behind closed doors. Given how widespread these rumours are, Pichora needs to immediately either confirm or deny the plan to shorten patient access.”
Reduction of hours will put more pressure on Kingston General Hospital's ER
Early closure of the Urgent Care Centre likely means more activity for Kingston General Hospital’s (KGH) emergency room. The most recent posting for ER wait times (October–December 2013) showed KGH well above the provincial average, especially for high acuity patients. High acuity patients spend an average of 18.1 hours in the ER of KGH compared to the provincial average of 10.1 hours. Low acuity patients spend 5.8 hours compared to a provincial average of 4 hours.
Sending patients back to KGH’s emergency room would reverse the province’s strategy to increase “after hours” access to alternate community-based care.
“The Wynne government sold the public on the idea of urgent care centres to relieve pressure on the ERs, now they appear to be flip-flopping in Kingston and sending patients back to an overloaded KGH,” says Thomas.
NUPGE
The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) is one of Canada's largest labour organizations with over 340,000 members. Our mission is to improve the lives of working families and to build a stronger Canada by ensuring our common wealth is used for the common good. NUPGE