More nurses resign from sexual assault program at HSC
A day after four nurses resigned from a department at the Health Sciences Centre, more have followed suit.
On Tuesday, Shared Health confirmed four nurses working casual positions in the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner program resigned. The nurses were on call for the program during their off time and hold other full-time nursing jobs.
Following that announcement, more nurses have done the same.
In an email to CTV News Winnipeg, the Manitoba Nurses Union said three more have resigned, bringing the total to seven.
"They can no longer stand by while people in positions of leadership continue to deceive the public," a spokesperson for the union said.
They noted with the reduced staffing numbers, the program went uncovered for 16 hours Tuesday night.
On Tuesday, Darlene Jackson, the president of the union, said they are losing skilled nurses.
"They are in a position where they are just done and they are not going to be working in the program anymore," she said on Tuesday.
On Wednesday, Shared Health told CTV News Winnipeg that two casual nurses had resigned since Tuesday, which had resulted in gaps in service coverage.
A spokesperson for Shared Health said they are working to stabilize the program for patients.
"This includes immediate work to stand up a physician coverage model, with a number of doctors expressing an interest in participating," the spokesperson said in an email. "We are also looking at opportunities to expand our casual nursing pool, including following up with nurses who have previously expressed an interest in this work as well as others who have reached out to request information about education and training opportunities."
They noted these steps are being taken until newly hired full-time nurses can start in the program following proper training.
Six nurses were hired after the province announced funding in April, 2022 for seven full-time positions.
Speaking to the media on Wednesday, Health Minister Audrey Gordon said she met with Shared Health leadership Tuesday about the resignations.
"More work needs to be done. There is always room for continuous improvement and to be doing things better," said Gordon.
"What we want to be doing is to listen to the individuals who have said they are resigning from the position, hear what we can do as system leaders better and take those steps."
She noted what is happening right now does not align with what the government had planned when the program was created.
"We will leave no stone left unturned in ensuring that this program is fully staffed and that the services Manitobans need and deserve at the Forensic Nurse Examiner Program at HSC and throughout the province as well."
NDP Health Critic Uzoma Asagwara is calling on Gordon to resign as health minister, saying the nurses in this program have been unsupported by the PC government.
Asagwara said they spoke with one of the nurses who resigned, noting they are devastated by the decision.
"These nurses love the work that they do. They are compassionate people who put the needs of their patients and their families first. They have been abandoned by this government and by this premier and minister of health," said Asagwara. "It is a heartbreaking decision for them to make to resign, but they have made it clear that it is a result of their voices going unheard, the mental and emotional toll of not being able to provide survivors the care that they need and deserve."
Liberal leader Dougald Lamont said fixing this program should be a top priority for the government. He doesn't believe the problem will be solved by Gordon's resignation but noted action is needed.
"The reason (the nurses) are quitting or planning to quit is because they have been treated as disposable," said Lamont. "The people who are really hurt in the end are the patients."
Shared Health said it expects the recently hired full-time nurses will complete their training by the summer, which will minimize the gaps in care and waits in the program.
- With files from CTV News' Danton Unger and Michelle Gerwing
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
NEW After hearing thousands of last words, this hospital chaplain has advice for the living
Hospital chaplain J.S. Park opens up about death, grief and hearing thousands of last words, and shares his advice for the living.
BREAKING Police cordon off Iran consulate in Paris where man threatens to blow himself up: French media
French police cordoned off the Iranian consulate in Paris on Friday, where a man was threatening to blow himself up, Europe 1 radio and BFM TV.
Some Canadian families will receive up to $620 per child today
More money will land in the pockets of some Canadian families on Friday for the latest Canada Child Benefit installment.
BREAKING Iran fires at apparent Israeli attack drones near Isfahan air base and nuclear site
An apparent Israeli drone attack on Iran saw troops fire air defences at a major air base and a nuclear site early Friday morning near the central city of Isfahan, an assault coming in retaliation for Tehran's unprecedented drone-and-missile assault on the country.
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer denied bail after being charged with killing Canadian couple
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer, one of two men charged in the killings of a Canadian couple in Dominica, has been denied bail.
Ottawa to force banks to call carbon rebate a carbon rebate in direct deposits
Canadian banks that refuse to identify the carbon rebate by name when doing direct deposits are forcing the government to change the law to make them do it, says Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault.
Ontario woman loses $15,000 to fake Walmart job scam
A woman who recently moved to Canada from India was searching for a job when she got caught in an online job scam and lost $15,000.
After COVID, WHO defines disease spread 'through air'
The World Health Organization and around 500 experts have agreed for the first time on what it means for a disease to spread through the air, in a bid to avoid the confusion early in the COVID-19 pandemic that some scientists have said cost lives.
Prince Harry formally confirms he is now a U.S. resident
Prince Harry, the son of King Charles III and fifth in line to the British throne, has formally confirmed he is now a U.S. resident.