Panel to investigate staffing, patient safety concerns at BCHS

A three-day hearing gets underway Tuesday to investigate concerns raised by nurses about Brantford General Hospital’s emergency department.

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The Ontario Nurses’ Association said in a statement issued Monday that registered nurses have called in an Independent Assessment Committee (IAC) after having repeatedly raised serious concerns about patient safety and RN staffing levels.

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“Nurses are alarmed for the safety of their acutely ill and unstable patients,” said ONA president Erin Ariss, RN. “Access to safe and timely care is being delayed due to ongoing and unsafe RN staffing levels.

“Over the past three years, this hospital has repeatedly failed to ensure the required RN resources to support nurses in providing patients with the best care possible – the care patients deserve, and the College of Nurses of Ontario stipulates that RN’s provide.”

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Ariss said RNs have submitted their concerns in writing to the Brant Community Healthcare System indicating the insufficient staffing levels are having a detrimental impact on patients, many of whom require specialized care.

“Nurses have been raising their concerns for more than three years, and the hospital has failed to resolve these serious issues,” said the ONA president. “Both patient health and the ability of RNs to meet their professional standards are on the line. RNs must be able to meet the standards set by their regulatory college or risk their ability to practice.”

The IAC consists of three independent RN experts to whom nurses will explain workload issues. The panel will evaluate the evidence and make recommendations to address concerns.

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Ariss said calling an IAC is the most severe step ONA can take to address concerns and is a last resort.

Beth Morris, interim chief nursing officer at BCHS, said the leadership team has been working with the ONA on these concerns for multiple years and continues to be receptive to the feedback and concerns experienced by staff.

“In response to the suggestions brought forward, BCHS has implemented several new programs and supports to assist nurses in their role, and these efforts have resulted in an increase in retention,” Morris said. “In the past three fiscal years, our turnover rate in the emergency department (ED) has seen a dramatic decrease from 38.1 per cent to only 4.7 per cent in the 2023/2024 fiscal year, well below our corporate 15 per cent budget.”

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She said staffing shortages are a pressure felt by many hospitals and is a major healthcare issue at both provincial and federal levels.

Morris said BCHS continues to work with the Ministry of Health, elected officials and administrative staff to increase awareness of the need for additional operational funding and is making investments to focus on registered nurse recruitment.

“Despite the limited resources, we have made exceptional efforts to work within those constraints to offer our staff opportunities for emotional and mental supports, career growth, and job recognition,” Morris said. “Staff can apply for professional development funds and the rate of interest in this offer has increased by 49 per cent since 2022, with $19,340.99 granted to ER nurses in 2023 alone.”

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BCHS is exploring solutions to staffing challenges that include clinical externs for learners and nursing students to be employed in the hospital on a clinical area, and a supervised practice experience partnership for internationally educated nurses to provide both groups with experience and a recruitment opportunity.

“We have been and continue to be in contact with the ONA about the concerns raised by our nurses,” said Morris. “In prior conversations with the ONA, 33 recommendations were generated, and the BCHS have resolved 97 per cent or 32 of the recommendations.

“The current staffing model remains unresolved and will be the focus at the IAC. The BCHS leadership team is committed to continuing to work collaboratively with our ED staff and the ONA.”

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