b>Hospitals should stay open longer - health minister Use equipment that lies idle after business hours: Marois

Quebec hospitals should stay open longer, so emergency rooms stop overflowing with patients who can't get diagnosed elsewhere, the province's health minister said yesterday.

Hospital lab experiment worthy

Ottawa Citizen Editorial October 6, 1999

The Ottawa Hospital is being criticized for hiring a private company to manage its laboratory operations. However, there doesn't seem much to be feared in the hospital's plans for these services. The hospital is bringing in Gamma Dynacare Medical Laboratories to help reorganize and streamline lab services. The Canadian Union of Public Employees has criticized the move, suggesting the company's business plan will result in understaffing and could ultimately lead to the driving down of salaries of lab workers.

Marois expands on closings

Patient-rights advocates and union leaders blasted Quebec Health Minister Pauline Marois yesterday for suggesting some of the province's worst emergency wards should be closed.

Docs could have helped Bill 37 - Klein

Olivieri, foes take battle over drug to Ottawa

Dr. Nancy Olivieri, the protagonist at the centre of a protracted drug controversy, will stage a pre-emptive press conference today in Ottawa in an attempt to convince Health Canada not to approve a drug she believes is harmful to patients. Dr. Olivieri, a prominent haematologist, and a panel of international experts will outline their concerns to the public as well as Health Canada officials today about the effectiveness and safety of deferiprone, a drug for thalassemia patients that was recently approved for use in Europe.

The waiting game The elderly suffer most as Canadians across the country find themselves waiting longer for hospital treatment

Sickest not receiving the fastest cardiac treatment: study Patients with doctors affiliated with hospital given preferential care

Emergency rooms in sick shape, Quebec health minister says Some should be shut: Marois: Forum will examine how to avoid chronic overcrowding

Health-care issue splits Liberals General council meeting votes for parallel systems

Hospital operating rooms should be used outside of normal hours to accommodate patients prepared to pay for their surgery, members of the Quebec Liberal Party decided yesterday. In an emotionally charged debate that lasted an hour, delegates to the party's general-council meeting opened the door to parallel systems of health care - a daytime system financed by the province's public-health-care plan and another open evenings and weekends for those who can pay.

Doctors getting a raise

Premier Bernard Lord has announced a pay raise for New Brunswick physicians. Salaried doctors will receive $20,000 more per year.

Doctors toss private hospital hot potato back to province Put legislation in place first, says college of physicians, surgeons

The whole issue of approving private hospitals has been thrown back into the hands of the Alberta government. The province's medical regulatory body Friday postponed a decision whether to approve standards for private hospitals, arguing it's up to the province to set policy legislation first.

Ontario Doctors, nurses, government and others tackle family medicine problems at OCFP interactive forum Groundbreaking meeting of more than 20 stakeholders

Canadian Red Cross Elects New President

Campaign launched to save G.F. Strong Health care unions, B.C. Coalition of People with Disabilities call for provincial agency to oversee rehab services

Government and OMA Cut Health Care Spending

The Ontario Association of Radiologists, the Ontario Association of Cardiologists and the Ontario Association of Nuclear Medicine have contacted the Ontario Minister of Health to arrange an urgent meeting to reverse a decision made by her officials and the Ontario Medical Association (OMA) which will reduce annual health care spending by over $30 million effective October 1, 1999. Yesterday's Government/OMA decision announced a 7% reduction in the overhead funding (known as technical fees) for diagnostic examinations. Diagnostic interpretations and procedures represent the front line in medical care and provide Ontario's physicians with the critical information to ensure that patients receive timely and appropriate care.

Ontario nurses urge immediate implementation of Sunnybrook inquest recommendations

The Ontario Nurses' Association (ONA) urges the speedy implementation of recommendations arising out of a coroner's inquest into patient deaths at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, now Sunnybrook-Women's College Hospital. ``When this tragedy occurred in 1997, we called for a public inquiry as well as a coroner's inquest into the impact of funding cuts on patient care at Sunnybrook, and hoped to turn a spotlight on what we believed was a system-wide crisis in Ontario. These recommendations begin to address some of the crucial shortfalls that have put patients in long-term care facilities at risk,'' said ONA President Barb Wahl, RN.

Generic drugmakers blast rule change Criticize retroactivity

ONA leaders to meet with eastern Ontario nurses over concerns about community health care

Canadians live longer, but teens depressed

Canadians living longer, but kids, natives suffer

Canada, you've never been healthier Almost everyone living longer and better, major study reveals

Medical mutiny brews at General Doctors fear for patients in light of plan to move neurology unit to Civic

Ottawa Hospital director David Levine is in for a rough ride today as he meets with staff in the neurosciences at the hospital's General campus to outline a proposal to move them all across town to the Civic. A memorandum protesting the move, signed by more than 100 doctors, nurses and other neurosciences staff at the General, is being sent to Mr. Levine, board members and other senior health administrators this morning.

Shortfall of family physicians threatens Canada's ability to meet health care needs

Survey reports shortage of family doctors

More medical grads may cure doctor shortage

Hospital wait study 'flawed'

A Fraser Institute report shows surgery wait times in Canada are increasing, but a BC Health Ministry representative says the study is flawed.

Health ministers meeting fails to resolve big issues

Fraser Institute Says Hospital Waiting Lists Longer; More Canadians Waiting

Report challenges Tory plan for health boards

A committee that spent nine months studying the way Nova Scotia delivers health care says the structure needs some work, but cautions against the wrecking ball the Conservative government promised in this summer's election. The final report of the Task Force on Regionalized Health Care -- born out of a Tory motion in the legislature last June -- says the system of four regional administrative health boards, which were set up in 1996, should be allowed to continue.

Laidlaw to focus on bus passenger transportation; Exit U.S. healthcare industry through divestiture of American Medical Response and EmCare

The Sisters of Hotel Dieu Hospital Will Appeal to Supreme Court of Canada

The Sisters of Hotel Dieu Hospital announced today that they will take their legal case against the Health Services Restructuring Commission (HSRC) to the Supreme Court of Canada. Notice of motion for leave to appeal is being filed with the Supreme Court of Canada by the Sisters' legal counsel.

Health ministers to tackle doctor shortage

Patients forced to wait for care Need for more anesthetists hits hospitals hard

A shortage of anesthetists has hit several Toronto hospitals, forcing sick children to wait for crucial medical tests and postponing surgery for adults.

Quebec's 'father of medicare' testifies for more privatization

Court case gets going on private health care

A legal case that could lead to private medical services being allowed in Quebec began Tuesday with one man saying he should have the right to pay for surgery. If successful, the plaintiffs' challenge could allow anyone to hire a "private" doctor in order to obtain private services, even in a hospital or other public institution.

Chaos at Quebec hospitals feared if pharmacists quit

Hospitals across the province are warning of general chaos if public-sector pharmacists quit their jobs as planned next week. Most of Quebec's 1,000 pharmacists who work in hospitals and community health clinics submitted their resignations this summer, to take effect Sept. 7. Unless the provincial Essential Services Council decides the resignations are illegal or the provincial government goes back to the bargaining table, the pharmacists will be gone, they say.

B.C. Health employers withdraw support for Business Summit Public health care employers had no business supporting health care privatization, says HEU

Locked-out Ontario Nurses' Association members reach tentative settlement with Victorian Order of Nurses

The nurses were locked out by their employer on September 17, 1998 after negotiations for a collective agreement broke down. Three other eastern Ontario branches of the VON - Lanark, Brockville/Leeds/Grenville and Renfrew County - were also locked out, however the VON terminated their visiting nursing programs rather than resume bargaining. ONA continues to negotiate with those branches to reach a collective agreement for our members there who are not part of the visiting nursing program.

Hospital Beds Close While Minister Studies the Nova Scotia Budget

The June 02, 1999 announcement by the Minister of Health and Community Services on the Nova Scotia budget has done nothing to address current nursing shortages in this province. In fact, it has contributed to more confusion over the Department's inadequate responses to date. It is ironic that the Minister was releasing her ``reflections'' on the Nova Scotia budget on the day the Grenfell Regional Health Services was notifying nurses of the closure of 17 hospital beds in the St. Anthony area due to nursing shortages.

Manitoba nurses protest wage dispute

More than 600 umbrella-carrying Manitoba nurses, chanted, cheered and roared their demands for hefty wage increases outside the legislature Monday. "It's time for a significant wage increase for nurses in Manitoba," said chief negotiator Irene Giesbrecht, who dropped a bomb on the bargaining table last week when she tabled wage demands of 26 per cent over two years. "There are no more excuses."

Manitoba nurses seek hefty raises

Manitoba hospitals want to send a contract dispute with their nurses to binding arbitration to avoid a repeat of a 1991 strike that saw health-care crippled for a month.

Manitoba nurses reach contract deal

Manitoba nurses reached a tentative contract with the province Monday that calls for an 11 per cent increase in wages over three years. The package also includes another 2.5 per cent increase in benefits. The government had originally offered six per cent over three years while the nurses had asked for 26 per cent over two years. Maureen Hancharyk of the Manitoba Nurses Union said a vote on the deal, reached with the help of a government-appointed mediator, will take place in two to three weeks. Health Minister Eric Stefanson said a looming provincial election did not have an impact on the negotiations, adding the nurses got more than the standard offer because Manitoba has a recruitment and retention problem. The wage deal means that nurses in Manitoba will be in the middle of the pack compared to their counterparts across the country.

Hospital closing half its beds

The hospital in Premier Brian Tobin's riding is closing half of its surgical and medical beds because it doesn't have enough nurses. Union president Debbie Forward says 17 beds will close in the Curtis Memorial Hospital in St. Anthony. As well, only one nurse will work the night shift in emergency. Forward says the hospital is having trouble attracting nurses and can't offer them permanent jobs without a written commitment of money from the province.

N.S. caregivers hopeful about health plan

Nova Scotia's $600-million commitment to health-care reform was greeted with cautious optimism by caregivers Wednesday, even though little is known about how the money will be spent. Health Minister Jim Smith met with representatives of the province's nurses, doctors and educators to tell them they will decide where the money will go. "Everybody says where's the plan," Smith said. "I didn't come in here this morning with a full plan. The model is ourselves. "We're creating it as we go." The minority Liberals introduced Tuesday the largest investment in Nova Scotia health care since medicare began 30 years ago. But there are few details about how the Health Investment Fund would ease the burden at acute-care hospitals in the province while bolstering community treatment.

Nova Scotia Liberals inject millions into health care

Nova Scotia's minority government brought down its 1999-2000 budget Tuesday, pumping millions of dollars into its health care system while maintaining the appearance of a balanced budget.

Nova Scotia Association of Health Organizations (NSAHO) response to provincial budget

The Nova Scotia Association of Health Organizations (NSAHO) is pleased with the direction of the 1999-2000 provincial budget released earlier today. ``Generally, this budget shows leadership and foresight in health care,'' said Anne McGuire, chair of NSAHO. ``It shows that government has heard our message about funding that looks at the entire system and its long-term needs.''

Officials from the Nova Scotia Association of Health Organizations (NSAHO) will be available to comment on the portions of the provincial budget that relate to health.

Maclean's Announces The Results Of Its National Health Report---Maclean's ranks health care across Canada

Maclean's second Health Report, to be published on Monday, May 31, 1999, presents the first-ever ranking of the health-care services available in Canada's major cities. Using data gathered by its partner in the project, the Canadian Institute of Health Information (CIHI), an independent, not-for-profit organization responsible for developing and maintaining Canada's health information system, Maclean's awarded each of the communities a mark based on performance in 13 varied areas of care. The result is a sweeping, groundbreaking report that illuminates an industry that consumes $80 billion annually.

Edmonton ranked No. 1 for health care

Edmonton is first and Toronto second among 16 Canadian cities in health care services, according to a report today in Maclean's magazine. An official with the Capital Region Health Authority was pleased with the results. "Obviously it's a positive thing for us,'' said Sheila Weatherill, the authority's chief executive officer. But Weatherill also sounded a note of caution. "I'd be the first to admit we still have a lot of work to do,'' she said. "We obviously need more hospital beds, for example.'' A senior official with the institute that provided the data on which the magazine based its report cautions that some touchy political health issues, such as waiting lists for surgery and emergency room delays, were not included in the comparisons. "This is the first crack at this and nobody thinks it's at all perfect,'' explained Dr. John Miller, the vice-president of research with the Canadian Institute of Health Information.

Nova Scotia Docs nursing suspicion Worried about liability in new health-care schemes

The province's doctors are worried they will be liable for the care provided by nurses if plans proceed for pilot projects aimed at overhauling the way basic health care is delivered. In an effort to improve access to the most basic level of care and reduce the use of more expensive parts of the system, the Health Department is accepting proposals for four primary-care pilot projects, all of which must include a role for a nurse practitioner. Unlike other members of their profession, nurse practitioners have additional training that allows them to manage patients with routine illnesses, make diagnoses, and prescribe drugs: roles now solely the domain of doctors in Nova Scotia. Medical society past-president Dr. Robert Mullan told the society's annual meeting in Digby yesterday doctors believed the pilots would see nurses in new roles, but not necessarily with all the responsibility of a nurse practitioners. Doctors are now worried they will be held medically and legally responsible for "every single solitary thing that person does," he said.

Patients' needs are first priority for the Frosst Health Care Foundation New Foundation committed to promoting a patient-centered health care system

he patient movement across the country has become stronger with the establishment of The Frosst Health Care Foundation, a national not-for-profit organization dedicated to providing the leadership necessary to achieve the goal of a patient-centred health care system in Canada. The Foundation's main objective is to ensure that the needs and values of patients continue to be the first priority in health care. The Frosst Health Care Foundation will help to ensure that patients, alongside health care providers, policy makers and payers, have a strong voice as the Canadian health care system undergoes reform. The Frosst Health Care Foundation is headquartered in Montreal. The Foundation is committed to providing the leadership necessary for a stronger patient role in the Canadian health care system. The Frosst Health Care Foundation is supported by an unrestricted grant from Merck Frosst Canada & Co., Canada's leading research-based pharmaceutical company.

VICTORY!!! SASKATCHEWAN NURSES STRIKE ENDS

Thanks to the pressure put on the Saskatchewan government from across Canada and around the world an agreement was reached on Sunday, with the Nurses gong back to work. However this morning, Monday April 19 they are in court and could still be fined or jailed for contmept of court. Vigalence and solidarity is still needed.

Saskatchewan recuperates Hospitals revive as NDP reflects on its handling of the nurses strike

Saskatchewan still plans to take nurses to court despite accord Union claims it won: Agreement pays more than twice legislated amount

Saskatchewan nurses end illegal strike

Saskatchewan's health-care system, crippled for 10 days by an illegal nurses strike, limped back to its feet Sunday after nurses agreed to end their walkout. Thousands of nurses began returning to work as their union president signed a memorandum of understanding with Premier Roy Romanow that clears the way for bargaining to resume. "I'm sure everyone will join me in a very huge sigh of relief that this now appears to be over," Romanow said. "Nobody wins as long as a strike like this goes on." The memorandum outlines the broad terms for a new collective agreement, including a six per cent wage hike over three years plus another 7.7 per cent of the total payroll to address benefits and working conditions. The details will be worked out in negotiations with the Saskatchewan Association of Health Organizations, which bargains for the province's health districts. The agreement falls well short of the union's demand for a 22 per cent wage increase, but it's about four per cent better than what was being offered before the strike began April 8.

Saskatchewan nurses hold Shoe-In

A boisterous group of nurses held a noisy "Shoe-In" at the Saskatchewan Legislature Friday to draw attention to the province's nursing shortage and sluggish contract negotiations. More than 100 members of the Saskatchewan Union of Nurses -- carrying signs and chanting slogans -- dumped hundreds of pairs of old white duty shoes on the steps of the huge stone building.

NEWFOUNDLAND NURSES LEGISLATED BACK TO WORK

Ontario nurses share counterparts' frustration

Ontario nurses share the anger and frustration of their counterparts in Newfoundland and across Canada as nursing unions square off against their provincial governments and employers. ``It is becoming more and more apparent that provincial governments and employers across Canada do not value the work of nurses, and now nurses are being forced to fight for their patients' safety and for themselves,'' said Barb Wahl, RN, President of the Ontario Nurses' Association (ONA). ``In Newfoundland, the provincial government has subverted the collective bargaining process by imposing a contract and legislating its legally-striking nurses back to work. Now nurses in Saskatchewan are poised to begin a strike.''

Steelworkers back Newfoundland nurses

The United Steelworkers in Atlantic Canada have pledged their support to Newfoundland's striking nurses, and the union is critical of the government's back-to-work legislation. ``If the Liberal government was serious about getting health care back to normal, it would make sure that nurses were dealt with fairly, instead of forcing them back to work under conditions that caused the strike in the first place,'' said Cal Luedee, the Steelworkers' Atlantic Coordinator. ``Nurses are the backbone of the health care system,'' he said. ``Their role has been seriously undervalued for years, and the bullying tactics of back-to-work legislation show remarkable disrespect to a group of professionals who are exercising their legal right to strike for a fair contract. ``Negotiate, don't legislate.''

White to Tobin: Negotiate

``I have one word for Premier Brian Tobin: Negotiate,'' said CLC President Bob White. ``The Premier is threatening to bring in back-to-work and contract settlement legislation against striking nurses. This would be a violation of these workers' democratic rights to bargain collectively. These rights are no different than other rights for Newfoundlanders. If the government can take these away, will they violate other rights when they become inconvenient?

Newfoundland rushes budget to head off nurses' strike

The Newfoundland government, clearly worried about a pending nurses' strike next Wednesday, has pushed ahead the date of its provincial budget. Premier Brian Tobin tried to play down the unusual move Thursday, saying the strike deadline was only one of several reasons for moving the budget to Monday from March 25.

Hospital boards alarmed by strike threats

An association representing hospital boards in Newfoundland said Wednesday it is alarmed by threats of an illegal nursing strike. John Peddle, of the hospital and nursing home association, said he was surprised when nurses in western Newfoundland said they will walk off the job Monday because of the nursing shortage. Judith Wells, president of a union local in Corner Brook, Nfld., threatened the strike Tuesday. She denounced a government decision last month to end a nine-day nursing strike with back-to-work legislation that removed binding arbitration. Peddle said he hoped another walkout can be avoided.

BC DOCTORS STRIKE

Poll says BCMA should scrap March 15 - 19 RADs 57 per cent say BCMA reduced activity days should be cancelled to help reduce surgery wait lists

Most British Columbians feel that the B.C. Medical Association should cancel next week's scheduled reduced activity days in an effort to relieve surgery backlogs. That's the finding of a poll released today by the Hospital Employees' Union. Starting in March 1998, the BCMA has withdrawn the services of physicians and surgeons from the health care system on 18 days and may have delayed as many as 15,600 surgeries. The five RADs scheduled for next week could delay another 4300 procedures. "The BCMA's tactics to draw attention to their fee dispute with the government are wearing thin with the public," says HEU secretary-business manager Chris Allnutt. "Instead of addressing the longer term challenges facing our health care system, the BCMA has pursued a campaign narrowly focussed on doctors' incomes — a campaign that's resulted in increased surgery waits for the rest of us. "If the BCMA carries out its plan to schedule 52 RADs next year, another 45,000 surgeries may be delayed," adds Allnutt. "From our perspective, such tactics are counter-productive and will compound the pressures on our health care system.

Doctors' job action deals blow to B.C. government Emergency wards swell

British Columbians facing five-day doctors' strike

Most of British Columbia's doctors are closing their offices for the next five days, hoping voters will blame the inconvenience on government underfunding. But Health Minister Penny Priddy said the job action is worrisome and she's encouraging concerned patients to let their doctors know they aren't happy. Meanwhile, health-care facilities in the province are scrambling to prepare for the situation.

29 doctors break with BCMA

For the first time, a group of doctors has publicly broken with the B.C. Medical Association. Almost 30 doctors in Victoria and the Lower Mainland say they will defy the so-called "rationed access days" and keep their offices open this week. The B.C. Medical Association has earmarked the next five days as RAD days, making for the longest stretch of office closures yet in its funding dispute with the province.

Tentative deal in nursing homes dispute

HALIFAX (CP) -- A provincewide nursing home strike appears to have been averted. A tentative contract between 3,000 nursing home workers, represented by the Canadian Union of Public Employees, and 42 long-term care facilities was hammered out Friday after almost two days of mediation.