Yukon NDP Leader Kate White is advocating for the introduction of a patient advocate in continuing care homes in the region due to concerns about the impact of changes in nursing staff schedules on the quality of care provided. White highlighted in a letter to the health minister in late July that there has been a reduction in nursing staff shifts, resulting in a decrease of 12 hours of care per day in a care home unit.
According to White, the reduction in shifts, which came into effect on June 1, has already started affecting care home workers and residents. Issues reported include missed hydration rounds, extended periods without bathing, delayed medication delivery, inadequate wound care, and overlooked tasks. White expressed that staff are struggling to cope with the workload and deliver high-quality care, with nurses being burdened with additional responsibilities such as basic tasks like preparing food for clients.
White has urged Health and Social Services Minister Brad Cathers to reverse the staffing cuts and provide transparency on the nursing ratio standards being utilized and how they align with national benchmarks. While Cathers acknowledged the concerns raised and assured that they would be investigated, he mentioned that there have been no changes in staffing levels for full-time staff overall, attributing any gaps in the summer to staff taking vacations.
In response to the call for a patient advocate, White emphasized the importance of having someone dedicated to representing the interests of care home residents, acting as a mediator between the facility’s management and the clients and their families. The Yukon Employees’ Union, which represents around 300 continuing care workers across four long-term care homes in the territory, voiced concerns over the impact of the staffing cuts on the workforce, emphasizing the risk of burnout and the need for adequate support for nursing staff to ensure the safety and well-being of both workers and residents.