Union worries about H1N1's next wave

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Union worries about H1N1's next wave

SUDBURY

Posted By HAROLD CARMICHAEL THE SUDBURY STAR
Posted 4 hours ago

The union representing more than 1,000 Sudbury Regional Hospital employees is worried the hospital will get caught short when the next wave of H1N1 infection hits the area.

"We're now in the second wave of H1N1 and the number of cases appears now to have stabilized," Michael Hurley, president of the Ontario Council of Hospital Unions, told a press conference Tuesday in Greater Sudbury. "But there is a third wave expected to follow this one and the virus is mutating. It's actually become more virulent ...

"Sudbury Regional Hospital and other Northern Ontario hospitals have a very limited capacity to deal with a pandemic."

It was suggested that during the next H1N1 wave, only one entrance per hospital building be used and that a staff member screen everyone as they enter.

"We want people at the door so we can avoid the H1N1 patients walking through the hospital." The union also wants the hospital to issue the better-protecting N95 facemasks to staff dealing with H1N1-positive patients, and the frequent changing of curtains where H1N1 patients are being treated.

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Re: Union worries about H1N1's next wave

Third wave of H1N1 expected, virus mutating -- (comment on this story)

Posted By HAROLD CARMICHAEL THE SUDBURY STAR
Posted 1 hour ago

The union representing more than 1,000 Sudbury Regional Hospital employees is worried the hospital will get caught short when the next wave of H1N1 infection hits the area.

"We're now in the second wave of H1N1 and the number of cases appears now to have stabilized," Michael Hurley, president of the Ontario Council of Hospital Unions, told a press conference Tuesday in Greater Sudbury. "But there is a third wave expected to follow this one and the virus is mutating. It's actually become more virulent ...

"Sudbury Regional Hospital and other Northern Ontario hospitals have a very limited capacity to deal with a pandemic."

Hurley was joined by David Shelefontiuk, president of Local 1623 of the Canadian Union of Public Employees, and Sharon Richer, vice-president of the Ontario Council of Hospital Unions.

Shelefontiuk said the union wants to see a number of measures put in place at Sudbury Regional Hospital to better deal with H1N1. He said the self-policing handwashing station policy the hospital uses in its entrances isn't working. A H1N1-positive visitor or patient heading to emergency could miss it and contaminate the entire building, Shelefontiuk said.

"I can tell you 90% of the people who go by don't use it," he said. "They can walk through the hospital trying to find the right area to go to. If they wander through the hospital, the whole area is going to be contaminated."

Shelefontiuk suggested during the next H1N1 wave, only one entrance per hospital building be used and that a staff member screen everyone as they enter.

"We want people at the door so we can avoid the H1N1 patients walking through the hospital," he said.

Shelefontiuk also wants the hospital to issue the better-protecting N95 facemasks to staff dealing with H1N1-positive patients and the frequent changing of curtains where H1N1 patients are being treated.

"We think they should be better protecting the employees who are going to deal with these cases," said the local president. "The workers are finding they are not getting enough information. They are getting information from different sources. They hear from the provincial government. They hear from their area managers. They are really stressed out. 'Am I really safe here?' "

Hurley said Ontario hospital unions have a responsibility to raise safety issues with H1N1 because lives could be at stake.

"What did we do during SARS?" he asked. "We did not speak out. Half of the deaths from SARS were staff. We are going to be much more vigilant now. A hospital is an excellent place to contract H1N1 and it shouldn't be."

When asked how many additional critical care beds should be in place for when the next H1N1 wave hits, Hurley said 10-15 would be in order.

"It's something the Ministry of Health should be seriously considering since the emergency protocols have been flagged for them," he said.

Joe Pilon, Sudbury Regional Hospital's senior vice-president, said the hospital has strict Ministry of Health guidelines in place to deal with influenza outbreaks and followed them to the letter with the recent H1N1 outbreak.

"I'm surprised at some of the statements they have made," he said. "We have quite a complicated pandemic plan ... We very effectively handled this wave of H1N1."

Pilon said the measures taken by the hospital included opening up four additional critical care beds and increased screenings in critical care areas.

"We had a very effective response by all accounts," he said.
Pilon said the hospital also has a good supply of N95 masks available for staff.

He said the hospital has no plans to change the access systems in place with its buildings, saying self-screening will remain in effect.

"Influenza is a community-borne illness," he said. "It's a virus that spreads quite rapidly in the community. They (Ministry of Health) don't ask us to screen patients. Patients could be coming in who are not contagious, (but) we discourage people from coming to the hospital if they have any symptoms."


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