St. Joseph’s Health Care London has made a decision to lay off 85 registered nurses who are currently providing frontline care at Parkwood Institute. The hospital plans to reassign these nurses to different roles, such as registered practical nurses. This move has been criticized by some employees as “inhumane,” especially considering the increasing demand for mental health care services in London.
Among the affected nurses are those who are part of the COAST team, a program where nurses collaborate with police officers on street patrols to assist individuals facing mental health or addiction crises. St. Joe’s will be discontinuing its participation in the COAST program effective January 15.
According to a note obtained by CBC News, the hospital will be eliminating a total of 83 full-time and 31 part-time positions, including both registered nurse and clerical roles. Specifically, 60 full-time and 25 part-time registered nurse positions will be cut. To compensate for the RN layoffs, the hospital plans to hire 82 new full-time and 24 part-time direct care positions, including registered practical nurses, personal support workers, occupational therapy/physiotherapy assistants, and social service workers, among others.
The hospital explained that these layoffs are part of cost-saving measures due to a $4.7 million budget deficit. The statement emphasized that the restructuring aims to realign the delivery of care to better match patients’ mental health needs while optimizing available resources.
Despite the hospital’s assurances, a Parkwood RN who spoke anonymously to CBC News expressed concerns about the immediate negative impact on patient care. The RN highlighted the unique skills and training of registered nurses in handling unpredictable patient situations compared to other healthcare workers. The decision is expected to reduce the number of RN positions at Parkwood significantly, affecting both in-patient and out-patient care as well as referrals from other hospitals.
The absence of St. Joseph’s in the COAST program is also expected to be strongly felt, as it provides crucial support for individuals in mental health crises outside the hospital setting. Partners in the program, such as the Canadian Mental Health Association Thames Valley Addiction and Mental Health Services and Middlesex-London Paramedic Service, will be affected by this change as well.
The Ontario Association of Nurses president, Erin Ariss, criticized the decision to eliminate RN positions, citing the high demand for mental health care in London. Ariss emphasized that registered nurses provide the highest level of care due to their extensive education and training. She expressed disappointment in the provincial government’s role in the layoffs and highlighted the importance of preserving RN positions to ensure quality care for the public.