David Raymond Amos @DavidRayAmos
Replying to @DavidRayAmos @alllibertynews and 49 others
Methinks the lawyer Ted Flemming acting as our Health Minister has been noticeably absent while his boss Higgy handled the virus issues The obvious question should be WHY N'esy Pas?
https://davidraymondamos3.blogspot.com/2020/06/its-not-safe-campbellton-hospital-staff.html
#nbpoli #cdnpoli
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/campbellton-hospital-doctor-n95-mask-covid-19-1.5618955
Doctor retracts call for wider N95 mask use on Campbellton hospital COVID-19 unit, says Vitalité
Anonymous front-line worker describes stresses of treating COVID-positive patients
· CBC News · Posted: Jun 19, 2020 11:53 AM AT
Dr. Vona MacMillan said Thursday that she was nervous to treat patients on the COVID-19 unit at the Campbellton Regional Hospital after 10 staff have tested positive. (Radio-Canada)
The northern New Brunswick doctor who voiced concerns about the prevention and control protocols on the COVID-19 unit at the Campbellton Regional Hospital has retracted her statements and apologized, according to a statement from Vitalité Health Network.
Dr. Vona MacMillan told Radio-Canada that she was a "little nervous" starting on the unit and called on the health authority to allow staff to wear N95 masks while treating COVID-positive patients, regardless of the procedure being performed.
She made those comments on Thursday and, at 4:20 p.m. on Friday, Vitalité released a statement saying MacMillan "wishes" to retract her comments.
"I recognize that what I said yesterday was wrong," MacMillan was quoted as saying in the statement from Vitalité. "That is why I would like to withdraw my statements and correct the facts. "
The facts she raised Thursday were around her unease about beginning the first of three shifts on the ward starting Friday after 10 hospital employees have tested positive for the virus.
MacMillan called for the wider use of N95 masks for Campbellton hospital staff treating COVID-19 patients, but the next day Vitalité released a statement saying she has apologized. (Serge Bouchard/Radio-Canada)
"It's a very contagious virus that we have and I've seen since our COVID unit has opened that staff working there are being infected despite using the proper precautions that are provided for us,"
MacMillan, a family physician based in Charlo, 30 kilometres east of Campbellton, told Radio-Canada on Thursday.
"To me, something with the proper precautions is not proper."
Vitalité said Wednesday the hospital is following proper protocols to the letter, and the positive tests are in part due to lax attitudes of staff while on break.
But three front-line care-givers who have worked on the ward told CBC News this week the root cause is problematic prevention measures and the denial of extra personal protective equipment for staff treating COVID-positive patients — specifically the wider use of N95 masks beyond certain procedures that produce airborne droplets.
MacMillan said she purchased her own N95 masks to wear while treating patients and called on Vitalité to run a trial for continuous use of the masks for staff on the unit.
Dr. Vona MacMillan displays her own N95 mask she's bringing to work on the COVID-19 unit at the Campbellton Regional Hospital. (Radio-Canada)
"We try it for two weeks and see what our numbers are, see if less are infected," MacMillan said. "If they are, then we know our N95s are better. If the numbers don't change, then we can go back to the other protective equipment.
"At least give us a fighting chance."
The Vitalité statement issued late Friday afternoon said the doctor "acknowledges that wearing the N95 mask on a continuous basis when caring for patients with COVID-19 is neither necessary nor recommended."
The health authority has previously told its employees as well as reporters it's following the recommendations of provincial Public Health and the Public Health Agency of Canada.
The Vitalité release regarding Dr. Vona MacMillan's comments. (CBC)
Vitalité's statement included an apology from MacMillan.
"I apologize to Vitalité Health Network, my physician colleagues and the public if my comments yesterday cause concern," she was quoted as saying. "I can assure you that all measures are being taken to ensure a safe work environment for the employees and patients of the Campbellton Regional Hospital."
Doctor said she may be disciplined
CBC News could not immediately reach MacMillan for comment following the statementDuring the interview Thursday, MacMillan said that she may be disciplined for speaking out and that putting her job on the line is a "hard thing to do."
Other health-care workers at the hospital are "all pretty much on the same page," she said. "We don't feel we're being treated fairly.
"For me, I'm here for the community and for my patients, and I think it's important enough that this community needs to be heard."
Doctors should be able to speak, society says
The president of the New Brunswick Medical Society said Friday following the statement that the society supports doctors expressing their opinions."The New Brunswick Medical Society supports physicians expressing clinical opinions pertaining to the COVID-19 pandemic," Dr. Chris Goodyear said in an emailed statement.
"These are challenging times for health-care providers; asking critical questions about guidelines and the availability of specialized equipment is certainly appropriate. We encourage an open dialogue with both regional health authorities and the province's physicians."
On Thursday morning, CBC News published a story detailing the fears of three health-care workers who say they feel unsafe under the existing prevention and control protocols. They said they fear for their safety and the safety of vulnerable family members at home.
CBC News agreed not to identify the workers, who said they have been warned by Vitalité not to talk to the news media.
Stressful working environment
A care-provider who's worked on the COVID-19 unit described the experience as "every stressor of being a health-care worker amplified because you're on edge about the virus.""Knowing that these patients can fluctuate in severity at the drop of a dime really keeps you on your nerves at all times; let alone the fact that if you make the mistake to remove that strand of hair that's in your face or scratch your seemingly always itchy face, you may very likely contaminate yourself and acquire the virus," they said.
The N95 mask not only offers a greater level of protection, employees say, it reassures them as well.
The workers said staff are fit-tested to ensure proper size and seal.
Some employees at the Campbellton Regional Hospital are calling for better personal protective equipment after 10 co-workers test positive for COVID-19. (Shane Fowler/CBC)
"We all heard that these basic masks are not to protect us but to protect others," they said.
"Should we, as front-line health-care workers, not be protected while being in such close proximity to the positive patients?"
The N95 masks filter out 95 per cent of airborne particles and are considered critical personal protective equipment for front-line health-care workers.
The alternative face coverings offered to staff are surgical or procedure masks paired with face shields or goggles.
"In most cases, the full PPE including gloves, gown, surgery or procedure mask and eye protection is appropriate when providing care to a COVID-19 patient or a suspected COVID-19 patient," Vitalité CEO Gilles Lanteigne said in a statement to CBC News.
Senior officials from the health authority say they're following the recommendations of the provincial Public Health and the Public Health Agency of Canada.
Employees suggest New Brunswick adopt an Ontario protocol — that was championed by the provincial nurses association — that allows nurses to determine, based on their clinical judgment, if they require a N95 mask when treating a suspected or positive COVID-19 patient.
Protocol concerns
In late May, after two weeks of no reported active cases in the province, Public Health announced a new cluster of the virus in the Campbellton region.The outbreak has resulted in more than 40 new cases, a handful of new hospitalizations — that's down to two currently — and New Brunswick's first two COVID-related deaths.
In addition to the 10 COVID-positive employees, there were, as of Wednesday, 31 others in self-isolation out of precaution. Vitalité said Friday one of the COVID-positive employees is no longer in isolation.
Lanteigne confirmed Wednesday at least one of the infected employees had not set foot in the COVID-19 unit.
He said a "number of factors" have contributed to the spread in the hospital, but staff have not been "on their guards as much as they should be" in the break room, describing their attitude as "pre-pandemic."
Gilles Lanteigne, president and CEO of Vitalité Health Network, says one of the factors that led to employees becoming infected was their lax attitude while taking breaks. (Radio-Canada)
One employee described his comments as "degrading and offensive," saying it's unlikely that 10 workers contracted the virus while on break, considering the gaps in protection.
"Our necks are open, our hair is not covered, our sneakers are constantly contaminated, from our knees down are completely uncovered," they said. "These nurses in other facilities are covered from head to toe."
The three Campbellton hospital employees who spoke to CBC News say being denied extra PPE, and what they see as risky protocols, created the risk of spread to COVID-19 unit staff and elsewhere in the facility.
They say staff have also been refused hair and shoe coverings — protection, they say, would reduce the risk of spread beyond the ward — and COVID-19 unit staff shared the same locker room with the rest of hospital staff.
The health authority has addressed some of their concerns, including establishing a larger break room for COVID-19 unit staff where a two-metre distance could be kept and stopping the rotation of staff to other wards.
Health minister questioned
Vitalité, Public Health and the New Brunswick minister of health have all said this week the supply of PPE is well-maintained.After CBC News published the concerns of some front-line workers, Liberal MLA Guy Arseneault, the representative for Campbellton-Dalhousie, questioned Health Minister Ted Flemming on ensuring access to appropriate PPE during Thursday's legislative sitting.
"I can assure, as far as the government is concerned," Flemming responded, "Vitalité Health Network and everyone in it is being provided the full resources of government, they're provided unlimited PPE, they're provided training for that, things like that, and if that's not the case, I will look into it. I certainly will."
Health Minister Ted Flemming said Thursday at the New Brunswick legislature employees have access to appropriate PPE and he would 'look into it' if that's not the case. (Ed Hunter/CBC)
On Friday, Premier Blaine Higgs said Vitalité is renewing efforts to ensure the proper protocols are in place, and the situation in Campbellton will help inform how other New Brunswick health-care facilities react in the event of an outbreak.
"We will try to work with officials there to ensure their concerns are recognized and we're mitigating them," Higgs said during an update on the provincial recovery plan.
With files from Serge Bouchard of Radio-Canada
79 Comments
Commenting is now closed for this story.
David Amos
Methinks the lawyer Ted Flemming acting as our Health Minister has been noticeably absent while his boss Higgy handled the virus issues the obvious question should be WHY N'esy Pas?
"After CBC News published the concerns of some front-line workers, Liberal MLA Guy Arseneault, the representative for Campbellton-Dalhousie, questioned Health Minister Ted Flemming on ensuring access to appropriate PPE during Thursday's legislative sitting.
"I can assure, as far as the government is concerned," Flemming responded, "Vitalité Health Network and everyone in it is being provided the full resources of government, they're provided unlimited PPE, they're provided training for that, things like that, and if that's not the case, I will look into it. I certainly will.
Terry Tibbs
Reply to @David Amos:
" I will look into it. I certainly will."
Anyone else having trouble finding any confidence that statement was supposed to inspire?
Lou Bell
Reply to @Terry Tibbs: More than what you and Dave have to say , that's for sure !!
frank
maclean
Shooting the messenger. If there are PPE problems after all this time, it is management failure.
David Amos
Reply to @frank
maclean: Methinks most folks believe the doctors and staff and not the
politically appointed boss Gilles Lanteigne or the lawyer Ted Flemming
N'esy Pas?
Graeme Scott
Vitalite is the dumpster fire of health authorities
David Amos
Reply to @Graeme Scott: Horizon is no better
Leroy Mccarthy
Reply to @David Amos: Scrap both. Duality at its finest.
Les Cooper
I think Vitalite must of told her retract statement or be fired
David Amos
David Amos
Reply to @Les Cooper: Many agree with you excepting Teddy's minions and his fellow members of the bar
Lou Bell
Reply to @Les Cooper: I suspect she was speaking as a misinformed Doctor , one who speaks before they think !
Dan Stewart
Reply to @Lou Bell: Or a Doctor that knew exactly what she was saying but was
pressured to retract her statement by the health authority.
pressured to retract her statement by the health authority.
Murray Brown
""I recognize that what I said yesterday was wrong," MacMillan was quoted as saying in the statement from Vitalité. "That is why I would like to withdraw my statements and correct the facts. ".... Before I get fired and end up with a bad reference that will end my career... Oops!
David Amos
Content disabled
Reply to @Murray Brown: Methinks little Lou is gonna pounce on you in a heartbeat N'esy Pas?
Reply to @Murray Brown: Methinks little Lou is gonna pounce on you in a heartbeat N'esy Pas?
Greg Miller
Yes, about disciplining doctors, haven't heard much more about a certain doctor at the centre of Covid controversy lately. Has he been disciplined?
David Amos
Reply to @Greg Miller: Ask his lawyer
eddy watts
She retracted her
statement!!! wow absolutely shocking....(not). What is absolutely
shameful is the threats and bullying. She's a doctor, she knew what she
was talking about....someone didn't like it, and it was retract or be
fired.
doug kirby
Reply to @eddy watts: exactly what happened
David Amos
Reply to @doug kirby: I concur
Lou Bell
Reply to @eddy watts: Your proof ? C'mon Eddy , you and dave tell us exactly what occurred , first hand ! you're the experts , social media and all !!!!!!!!!!!
Lou Bell
Reply to @eddy watts: Your proof ? C'mon Eddy , you and dave tell us exactly what occurred , first hand ! you're the experts , social media and all !!!!!!!!!!!
Lou Bell
Did the people implying the proper PPE's were not available ? If they understood the story , the Dr. retracted her statement !
David Amos
Reply to @Lou Bell: Say Hey to Teddy and Higgy for me will ya?
Lou Bell
Reply to @David Amos: Eat another donut !
Lou Bell
Reply to @David Amos: Eat another donut !
Joe
Rootliek
If I was working with
Covid 19 patients, I would want to be using the N 95 mask and a
faceshield, even disposible white coveralls - maybe even the booties.
I thought that was paramount- N 95 when inside a room with a Covid 19 Patient, and even outside perhaps with co workers talking at the table, who may have picked up Covid 19- who knows.
Workers should stand up, and say, what is lacking in their profession, without fear of reprimand. Are we living in the 1970s or 2020s?
Sad for Vitalite to try to limit the workers talk on the subject, we live in a free country afterall. My personal opinion, the workers should have enough N 95 masks by now to do them for a few years? Did not the government stock pile these things by now??? What is the wait for?? Being Cheap??
I thought that was paramount- N 95 when inside a room with a Covid 19 Patient, and even outside perhaps with co workers talking at the table, who may have picked up Covid 19- who knows.
Workers should stand up, and say, what is lacking in their profession, without fear of reprimand. Are we living in the 1970s or 2020s?
Sad for Vitalite to try to limit the workers talk on the subject, we live in a free country afterall. My personal opinion, the workers should have enough N 95 masks by now to do them for a few years? Did not the government stock pile these things by now??? What is the wait for?? Being Cheap??
Lou Bell
Reply to @Joe
Rootliek: How do you know they're limited ? They must realize if tehy
imply there are problems then they'll most likely to be asked what they
are and for evidence ! Shooting off at the mouth and also the 3 not
wanting their names released may simply be what they say is not true .
or even partly not true 1 Doesn't mean they're being stifled !
doug kirby
Reply to @Joe
Rootliek: yes we do live in a free country but for some reason some
politicians forget that instead they deliver rules and
restrictions...most listen but most don’t...for those that listen they
have you exactly where they want you however the ones that don’t pay
attention to the virus but continue to live. It’s concerning why she
retracted her statement but I am sure we all know the reason why
Dan Stewart
Reply to @Lou Bell:
Or they may well be telling the truth and they are being stifled... I
mean if you are going to speculate.... anything goes right?
Joe
Rootliek
Reply to @Lou Bell:
How do you know they are not limited. It appears from these two
articles that workers were limited when working with Covid 19 patients,
especially the past article.
If you do have a boss, if, that says no to wearing a N 95 mask, if at all, then you got a problem. What I get from the First Article, is exactly that.
If you do have a boss, if, that says no to wearing a N 95 mask, if at all, then you got a problem. What I get from the First Article, is exactly that.
David Amos
Reply to @Dan Stewart: Methinks you have failed poorly at sorting the truth from fiction in the past N'esy Pas?
Dan Stewart
Reply
to @David Amos: Well Dave failing to sort truth from fiction is
something you should know sonething about... Sadly the key word there is
"should"...
David Amos
David Amos
Content disabled
Reply to @Dan Stewart: I am no liar
David Amos
Content disabled
Reply to @Dan
Stewart: Your latest comment tells me you can't be Jake. Furthermore why
do you call me Dave? Do we know each other?
David Amos
Reply to @Dan Stewart: I repeat are you a lawyer?
Dan Stewart
Reply to @David Amos: I repeat, Are you in need of one?
David Amos
Reply to @Dan
Stewart: You already asked that and I answered NO Trust that I can smell
lawyers, cops bureaucrats and politicians through brick walls at 500
hundred paces. When you attacked me out of blue you smelled very bad and
I doubt that is your real name that you are using.
Dan Stewart
Reply to @David Amos: See Dave thats yet another example of your inability to sort truth from fiction. That or your smeller is out or wack tonight... personally my moneys on the inability thing.
Justin Gunther
Higgs made the big
leagues! Check out the NY Times article released a couple of hours ago,
featuring our irrefutably popular Premiere blaming healthcare workers
for things!
David Amos
Reply to @Justin
Gunther: Sounds about par for the course and Higgy deserves the bad
press but to be fair you must know that the NYT is controlled by the
Fake Left Correct?
Justin Gunther
"Knowing that these
patients can fluctuate in severity at the drop of a dime really keeps
you on your nerves at all times; let alone the fact that if you make the
mistake to remove that strand of hair that's in your face or scratch
your seemingly always itchy face, you may very likely contaminate
yourself and acquire the virus,"
Are you suggesting that the possibility of transmission increases the more severe the symptoms are? Has our Supreme Health Overlord Dr. Tam made any statements at all on asymptomatic spread since the WHOs initial statement and then subsequent flip-flop?
Are you suggesting that the possibility of transmission increases the more severe the symptoms are? Has our Supreme Health Overlord Dr. Tam made any statements at all on asymptomatic spread since the WHOs initial statement and then subsequent flip-flop?
David Amos
Reply to @Justin Gunther: Hard telling not knowing for sure There are too many flip flops to keep up with lately
Steve Dueck
Pretty sad when your
employer is not providing the the proper PPE. I wonder if they would go
to work there without it? Some how I don’t think they would. When
workers have to look after their own own safety on the job it shows that
something is broken somewhere.
Lou Bell
Reply to @Steve Dueck: If you read and understood the story you'd realize Dr. MacMillan rtracted her statement !
David Amos
Reply to @Lou Bell:
Methinks everybody read the story They just have a different take on it
that differs with the government's favourite spin doctor's opinion tis
all N'esy Pas?
frank maclean
Dr. MacMillan is
highly respected and the authorities, if they can but figure out who
they are serving, need to heed her suggestion. Something is not right.
David Amos
Reply to @frank maclean: Yup
Justin Time
Totally unacceptable
that these workers are not provided all the PPE required to keep
themselves, the patients and the general public safe. And totally
unacceptable for Mr. Lanteigne to blame the workers for infections. Too
bad they have to wait until October for his retirement.
David Amos
Reply to @Justin Time: I agree
Bet Harris
Denying protection to
essential workers is an unacceptable disgrace, especially when they are
even willing to purchase their own PPE. I know first-hand that flight
attendants and other airport employees were not allowed to wear their
own PPE for fear of losing their jobs. They were in daily contact with
thousands of returning Canadians from Corona virus hot spots as late as
April 1and some of those travellers were clearly ill.
David Amos
Reply to @Bet Harris: Go figure why that is
Toby Tolly
the best protection is to clean clean clean
sadly most visits ive made to hospitals dont indicate that
sadly most visits ive made to hospitals dont indicate that
David Amos
Reply to @Toby Tolly: The hospitals looked just fine to me
Terry Tibbs
Reply to @David Amos:
Then you're not looking. I've spent a lot of time in hospitals lately, the floors are not clean, and last year's flies are still in some of the light fixtures. There is no thorough cleaning, just quickie cleans, barely a shine and a polish, and the next victim is moved in.
Then you're not looking. I've spent a lot of time in hospitals lately, the floors are not clean, and last year's flies are still in some of the light fixtures. There is no thorough cleaning, just quickie cleans, barely a shine and a polish, and the next victim is moved in.
David Amos
Reply to @Terry Tibbs: Clearly we went to different hospitals FYI the ones I went to spoke French
Chuck Gendron
Reply to @Terry Tibbs: You are very correct there, it is not about getting results it is just about going through the motions. If you actually try to do a good job with results, the management and union will be on your back about it.
Chuck Gendron
Reply to @Terry Tibbs: You are very correct there, it is not about getting results it is just about going through the motions. If you actually try to do a good job with results, the management and union will be on your back about it.
James Smythe
I’m not a betting
man, but if I was I’d put my money on the fact that all these stories
are being used to roll both provincial health authorities into one for
cost savings once this is all over.
Terry Tibbs
Reply to @James Smythe:
There should have never have been 2 in the first place.
There should have never have been 2 in the first place.
David Amos
Reply to @James Smythe: I would bet against ya
Derek Grant
We need more Medical
Professionals like Dr. Vona McMillan. N-95s have been proven to filter
more viral pathogens than generic surgical masks, community masks,
and/or ballpark physical distancing practices. Why roll the dice with
such a cunning, insidious virus? All Covid-19 Front-Liners should have
these proven respiratory filters at their disposal …. & f the
expense.
Derek Grant
Reply to @Derek Grant: Yikes, that was an arm-twisting U-turn of biblical proportions!
David Amos
Reply to @Derek Grant: YUP
Rob Mason
People chose Health
care as a profession, you knew the risks going in. That would be like a
firefighter saying they don't want to enter a house fire. Provide the
PPE, use it properly and follow established procedures.
Mary Smith
Reply to @Rob Mason:
It would be the equivalent of telling a firefighter to enter a burning
house without oxygen or proper protective gear.
"Employees suggest New Brunswick adopt an Ontario protocol — that was championed by the provincial nurses association — that allows nurses to determine, based on their clinical judgment, if they require a N95 mask when treating a suspected or positive COVID-19 patient."
Whenever in the room with a Covid-19 patient they should be able to wear a N95 mask if they feel it's necessary to do so.
"The N95 mask not only offers a greater level of protection, employees say, it reassures them as well. The workers said staff are fit-tested to ensure proper size and seal. "We all heard that these basic masks are not to protect us but to protect others," they said. "Should we, as front-line health-care workers, not be protected while being in such close proximity to the positive patients?""
They should be protected, and if they aren't because they're denied access to PPE, then why would they continue on when they'd be risking their lives? We need to treat those who are most at risk - those directly dealing with Covid-19 patients - better and we need to give them the resources necessary to keep them safe. If they continue to fall ill, who will be left to step in and carry on taking care of us when we need them to. In NB everyone has the right to deny unsafe workplaces..
Protect those on the front line, step up the protocols that have so many flaws as pointed out in these past few articles, and empower front line workers to keep themselves - and us - safe from falling ill from this virus. We've had so much time to prepare, but it seems there's still so many gaps, and front line workers and their contacts are needlessly being put at risk.
"Employees suggest New Brunswick adopt an Ontario protocol — that was championed by the provincial nurses association — that allows nurses to determine, based on their clinical judgment, if they require a N95 mask when treating a suspected or positive COVID-19 patient."
Whenever in the room with a Covid-19 patient they should be able to wear a N95 mask if they feel it's necessary to do so.
"The N95 mask not only offers a greater level of protection, employees say, it reassures them as well. The workers said staff are fit-tested to ensure proper size and seal. "We all heard that these basic masks are not to protect us but to protect others," they said. "Should we, as front-line health-care workers, not be protected while being in such close proximity to the positive patients?""
They should be protected, and if they aren't because they're denied access to PPE, then why would they continue on when they'd be risking their lives? We need to treat those who are most at risk - those directly dealing with Covid-19 patients - better and we need to give them the resources necessary to keep them safe. If they continue to fall ill, who will be left to step in and carry on taking care of us when we need them to. In NB everyone has the right to deny unsafe workplaces..
Protect those on the front line, step up the protocols that have so many flaws as pointed out in these past few articles, and empower front line workers to keep themselves - and us - safe from falling ill from this virus. We've had so much time to prepare, but it seems there's still so many gaps, and front line workers and their contacts are needlessly being put at risk.
Wayne
Wright
Reply to @Rob Mason:
they knew risks going in but not a pandemic as Covid-19 that Authorities
world-wide did not have proper PPE's in abundance to further protect
the staff. Don't lay blame or even insinuate "they knew the risks"; bet
you would be complaining if you were in their shoes.
Rob Mason
Reply to @Wayne
Wright: They should have access to PPE and the option to move up a level
is never an issue if the employee feels it is necessary. They are in
health care, there are daily risks of contracting many diseases, this is
just a new one to add to the list.
David Amos
Reply to @Rob Mason:
Imagine me agreeing with a Mason dude who hates me twice within the same
week Methinks amazing things never cease N'esy Pas?
Ray Oliver
Reply to @David Amos:
That's hardly amazing it's probably closer to more like after every
comment you post not just twice a week
Chuck Gendron
That is the problem
in all of health care, nobody is allowed to use their judgement,
everybody is just to do as they are told ultimately nobody is
responsible for anything. Just following orders is the common response
to every question, no more reason, no need to think, just go through the
motions.
Donald Gallant
Reply to @Chuck Gendron:
It’s called Socialism.
You're Govt at work working for you.
It’s called Socialism.
You're Govt at work working for you.
Terry Tibbs
Reply to @Chuck Gendron:
The "problem" with health care is two fold.
1)Somehow it is neither the patients, nor the healers, calling the shots.
2)The politicians have been stuffing healthcare with patronage positions for years turning the whole thing into a gong show, a very expensive gong show.
The "problem" with health care is two fold.
1)Somehow it is neither the patients, nor the healers, calling the shots.
2)The politicians have been stuffing healthcare with patronage positions for years turning the whole thing into a gong show, a very expensive gong show.
David Amos
Reply to @Terry Tibbs: Oh So True
John Oliver
Reply to @Donald Gallant: Cause the USA-model is superior? And, I would bet dollars to donoughts that you are infrastructure socialist, too.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/covid-19-campbellton-hospital-staff-unsafe-protocols-1.5616562
'It's not safe': Campbellton hospital staff troubled by working conditions amid COVID-19 outbreak
3 employees say protocols not strong enough, staff denied extra PPE
· CBC News · Posted: Jun 18, 2020 6:00 AM AT
Some employees at the Campbellton Regional Hospital are calling for better personal protective equipment after at least 10 co-workers test positive for COVID-19. (Shane Fowler/CBC)
Some staff who have worked on the COVID-19 unit of the Campbellton Regional Hospital say they do not feel safe under the existing safety protocols.
"It's not safe. I don't feel safe," one employee said of the working conditions inside the hospital at the centre of the outbreak of coronavirus in the Zone 5 health region.
Three health-care workers are speaking out as the number of infected staff and those forced into isolation grows. CBC News has agreed not to identify the workers, who say they have been warned by Vitalité not to talk to the news media.
As of Wednesday, 10 employees had tested positive for the virus and 31 others are self-isolating. Vitalité Health Network announced Saturday that the hospital is effectively on lockdown in closing its emergency room, cancelling non-urgent services and prohibiting visits.
The presence of COVID-19 in the hospital has led staff to question the effectiveness of key protocols to reduce the risks of transmission and call on Vitalité for change. The employees say staff have been refused extra protection when treating COVID-19 patients, and lax protocols create a risk of spread throughout the hospital.
The employees say they're fearful of bringing the virus home to vulnerable family members.
"Do I want to bring that home to them?" said one employee. "Adults are having a hard time breaking the fever from it. I don't want to see my kids fighting this virus."
Vitalité CEO Gilles Lanteigne said during a virtual media scrum Wednesday the health authority is "very, very confident" in the current controls and continues to follow best practices.
"I think what you're hearing by some of the staff is that they're worried, they're concerned," he said.
"That's why our role is to reassure them that the techniques and their training are good."
Employees describe risks
In late May, after two weeks of no reported active cases in the province, Public Health announced a new cluster of the virus in the Campbellton region. It was linked to a medical professional who travelled to Quebec and didn't self-isolate upon his return, but he is challenging the assertion and seeking an apology from the premier.The outbreak has resulted in more than 40 new cases, a handful of new hospitalizations — there are four currently — and New Brunswick's first two COVID-related deaths.
The Campbellton Regional Hospital has been at the centre of the cluster of COVID-19 cases in Zone 5. (Shane Fowler/CBC)
The three employees all described the same series of protocols they viewed as problematic as the cluster grew and made its way into the hospital. The most concerning include:
- COVID-19 unit staff shared the same locker room with the rest of hospital staff.
- COVID-19 unit staff were refused hair and shoe coverings — protection, they say, would reduce the risk of spread beyond the ward.
- COVID-19 unit staff were told to have take breaks inside a small office, where a two-metre distance could not be met — a break room that was used by at least one staff member who has tested positive, one employee says.
- COVID-19 unit staff have moved to other units after treating patients.
- as of last week, there was no screening of employees, such as taking temperatures or symptom questions, when entering the building.
- Staff have been refused wider use of N95 masks after making an official request to their employer.
One employee said COVID-19 unit staff would change gloves between patients but not gowns, which, they say, does not follow standard PPE procedure. Surgical or procedure masks are changed every break, they said, and replacement masks aren't on the unit.
"I had a positive COVID patient cough in my direct line of fire, right in my face, and it was not the patient's fault," one employee said. "[The supervisor] said, 'You should've put a mask on their face, and I said, 'How am I supposed to do that when there aren't replacement masks on the unit?"
Lanteigne confirmed Wednesday at least one of the infected employees had not set foot in the COVID-19 unit.
Gilles Lanteigne, president and CEO of Vitalité Health Network, says he's 'very, very confident' in the current prevention measures at the hospital. (Radio-Canada)
He said a "number of factors" have contributed to the spread in the hospital, but staff have not been "on their guards as much as they should be" in the break room, describing their attitude as "pre-pandemic." He did not elaborate on the other possible factors.
N95 mask use
The employees say the N95 mask issue, in particular, is important to concerned staff. Staff are only permitted the masks during certain procedures that produce airborne droplets.The masks filter out 95 per cent of airborne particles and are considered critical personal protective equipment for front-line health-care workers.
"I don't understand why we aren't wearing them," said an employee involved in more routine patient care, saying their options are a mask with a face shield or a surgical mask with goggles.
"I, personally, wear glasses, and my glasses fog up very easily wearing masks, the face shield especially, because all the air just goes up into the face shield and fogs my glasses. If the air is escaping the regular mask, that means we can breathe in [droplets]."
Hospital staff are calling on their employer and Public Health for wider use of the N95 mask. (Justin Fraser/CBC)
Vitalité has told staff surgical and procedure masks suffice when treating patients, and N95 masks should be limited to "specific cases, for example, if an aerosol generating medical procedure (AGMP) is performed on a patient of if a patient is undergoing a diagnostic bronchoscopy."
That was the response staff received from Vitalité and subsequently leaked to CBC News.
"In most cases, the full PPE including gloves, gown, surgery or procedure mask and eye protection is appropriate when providing care to a COVID-19 patient or a suspected COVID-19 patient," said the statement attributed to Gisèle Beaulieu, vice-president of performance and quality and vice-chair of the infection prevention and control committee.
The health authority maintained Wednesday it has followed the prevention and control protocols set by the provincial Public Health and the Public Health Agency of Canada.
'That's been the advice during the entire pandemic'
Dr. Jennifer Russell, the province's chief medical officer of health, said during Monday's COVID-19 briefing the use of N95 masks for specific procedures is in line with Public Health guidance and the word of the federal health agency."That's been the advice during the entire pandemic."
Dr. Jennifer Russell, New Brunswick's chief medical officer, says the supply of PPE in New Brunswick health-care centres is well-maintained. (Government of New Brunswick)
Russell said an aerosol-generating procedure produces droplets that become airborne, creating a risk of transmission, and staff have access to the masks in those instances.
Both Russell and Lanteigne said the supply of PPE is well maintained and that Vitalité is reviewing its prevention procedures.
PPE directive
A March 31 memo, which was signed off on by 23 health officials, offered direction to all New Brunswick health-care facilities on the use of PPE and cautioned against the liberal use of masks.The memo said the guidelines at the two regional health authorities for managing COVID-19 patients complied with federal guidelines.
"Liberalizing use of PPE beyond our current guidelines will only serve to provide a false sense of security and rapidly exhaust a finite supply," it said.
On N95 masks, the memo stated they "do not provide superior protection" against COVID-19 except during medical procedures that trigger aerosol spray from patients.
Pictured is the March 31 memo about personal protective equipment protocol. (Submitted)
A revised memo, issued in early April, clarified that N95 masks "must be used" in any room where aerosol-generating procedures "are being performed, are frequent or probable, or with any intubated patients."
It was agreed to by the province, the two health authorities, Medavie Health Services NB, as well as the New Brunswick Nurses Union, the Canadian Union of Public Employees and the New Brunswick Union.
The memos came as the number of COVID-19 cases in New Brunswick was growing and after the province had difficulty securing N95 masks from a U.S. manufacturer.
Asked if the protocols should be changed at this point in the pandemic, considering the province's active cases are almost entirely in the Campbellton region, Public Health maintained the directives in the memo remain best practice.
Bruce Macfarlane, communications director for the Department of Health, said in an emailed statement on June 12 that a joint statement between employers and unions "set the bar high" for appropriate and safe PPE use — requirements also reviewed by WorkSafeNB.
"We understand the anxiety that this outbreak is causing amongst staff and have been assured that Vitalité is having discussions with our workers in Campbellton to better understand how transmission occurred in the facility in order to address any gaps that may exist," Macfarlane said.
Testing blitz
Vitalité engaged in a testing blitz over the weekend and into Monday, testing 930 of the more than 1,200 employees between the Campbellton Regional Hospital and the adjacent Restigouche Hospital Centre.Lanteigne said Wednesday about half of the 41 employees now off work will return by next Friday. He said the majority of affected hospital staff are nurses.
The nurses union told Radio-Canada on Friday that it's had many discussions regarding PPE with the province's COVID-19 task force, and president Paula Doucet said the current use of N95 "has been the advice during the entire pandemic."
The union has not responded to a CBC News question on whether the policy would be revisited in light of its members' concerns.
93 Comments
Commenting is now closed for this story.David Amos
Methinks Higgy et al must agree that the plot thickens on a daily basis N'esy Pas?
Terry Tibbs
Terry Tibbs
Reply to @David Amos:
He certainly seems to be staggering from one disaster to the next disaster?
Though, I'm *thinking* it is an Irving management style?
I worked with another X-Irving manager and that was his management style too.
David Amos
He certainly seems to be staggering from one disaster to the next disaster?
Though, I'm *thinking* it is an Irving management style?
I worked with another X-Irving manager and that was his management style too.
David Amos
Reply to @Terry Tibbs: Yup
Tony Mcalbey
Reply to @David Amos: well saidTony Mcalbey
jacques laviolette
Yes , where is the minister of health, when missing after is fiasco with closing ER at some hospital, people in region 5 are treated like we all have the virus when traveling outside region 5, more than 98% of residents in region 5 DON'T HAVE VIRUS, but
Mr Premier and Dr Rusell keep saying don't leave region 5
David Amos
Reply to @jacques
laviolette: Methinks the reason Teddy don't call and don't write me
since before he was first elected years ago is because that lawyer never
loved me N'esy Pas?
Tony Mcalbey
Jody Guidry
Toby Tolly
Reply to @jacques
laviolette: this is why borders need to be opened, this is why grandma
in Amherst should be allowed seeing grandchild in sackville, no virus
anywhere near that area
Jody Guidry
Gilles Lanteigne's
office should be relocated to the centre of the area in the Campbellton
hospital where the Covid-19 cases are treated. All of the staff's
concerns about improved working conditions would be met and exceeded THE
VERY NEXT DAY. Clearly, the problem right now is that there are no
"important" people involved in the situation there, so why should they
bother fixing all these issues just to save a few people from Northern
NB?
Terry Tibbs
Reply to @Jody Guidry:
You are making a pretty big assumption there.
Who's to say Gilles Lanteigne is "important"?
(Those patronage positions were only created as a cut off between politicians and operations, a highly paid scapegoat)
David Amos
Reply to @Jody Guidry:
You are making a pretty big assumption there.
Who's to say Gilles Lanteigne is "important"?
(Those patronage positions were only created as a cut off between politicians and operations, a highly paid scapegoat)
David Amos
Reply to @Terry Tibbs: Furthermore Gilles Lanteigne is quitting his fancy job
Terry Tibbs
Terry Tibbs
Reply to @David Amos:
Happy Trails...............
Donald Gallant
Happy Trails...............
Donald Gallant
Supplies required for
safety and policies should be Public knowledge and adherence to the
rules need to be mandatory and evidence of same provided online.
The secrecy is disgusting these days.
Chris
The secrecy is disgusting these days.
Chris
Reply to @Donald
Gallant: Secrecy is a strategic tool which benefits a small number.
Used in conjunction with compartmentalization of information flow to
keep the right hand from understanding the movements of the left. The
best countermeasure is to shine a bright light and forced
accountability.
David Amos
David Amos
Reply to @Donald Gallant: Surprise Surprise Surprise
David Amos
David Amos
Reply to @Chris .: Chris who?
Terry Tibbs
Our ENTIRE health
system is built on trust. As patients we trust that any hospital we go
to will make their best effort to heal us. The healers employed by that
hospital trust their employer will provide a safe place with the right
tools and supplies to get their job of healing done.
When the system breaks, through lack of trust, we are ALL in trouble.
When the system breaks, through lack of trust, we are ALL in trouble.
Tony Mcalbey
Reply to @Terry
Tibbs: True. Leadership starts at the top. High time for ms Russell to
resign. Her words for past months have been just that, just words.
Higgy needs to step up too
Terry Tibbs
Reply to @Tony Mcalbey:
Wait a minute, you are mistaken, please stop and think.
A hospital employee has 3 avenues to redress unsafe working conditions:
1) Through their boss, who would go to the hospital administrator, to the head of Vitality, ultimately to the Minister of Health (anybody heard from, or seen, him lately?)
2) WorkSafe NB
3) Their Union
When a wildcard situation exists, and they are ignored by those 3 avenues, then they go to the media, which should result in what you see here.
Wait a minute, you are mistaken, please stop and think.
A hospital employee has 3 avenues to redress unsafe working conditions:
1) Through their boss, who would go to the hospital administrator, to the head of Vitality, ultimately to the Minister of Health (anybody heard from, or seen, him lately?)
2) WorkSafe NB
3) Their Union
When a wildcard situation exists, and they are ignored by those 3 avenues, then they go to the media, which should result in what you see here.
David Amos
Reply to @Terry Tibbs: Methinks its interesting that you are asking this "Tony" dude to think N'esy Pas?
Terry Tibbs
Reply to @David Amos:
This kind of stuff was taught in school, or at least it was where I went to school, though in NB who knows? You couldn't ask the Minister of Education, because I pretty sure he doesn't know what is going on.
It's all very Pythonesque.
We also don't know how poisonous the workplace is, either way the Union, or the floor supervisor, should have made the trip to the Hospital Administrator's office with employee concerns.
This kind of stuff was taught in school, or at least it was where I went to school, though in NB who knows? You couldn't ask the Minister of Education, because I pretty sure he doesn't know what is going on.
It's all very Pythonesque.
We also don't know how poisonous the workplace is, either way the Union, or the floor supervisor, should have made the trip to the Hospital Administrator's office with employee concerns.
David Amos
Reply to @Terry Tibbs: Trust that you would be amazed at the fun I am having today with Big Pharma
Terry Tibbs
Content disabled
Content disabled
Reply to @Tony Mcalbey:
This is not on Russell however this is on Langeigne and the Vitalite Health Care.... Want to be answerable to no one and not adhere to the protocol in place and this is what you end up with..
Mack Leigh
Reply to @Tony Mcalbey:
This is not on Russell however this is on Langeigne and the Vitalite Health Care.... Want to be answerable to no one and not adhere to the protocol in place and this is what you end up with..
This is not on Russell however this is on Langeigne and the Vitalite Health Care.... Want to be answerable to no one and not adhere to the protocol in place and this is what you end up with..
Mack Leigh
Reply to @Tony Mcalbey:
This is not on Russell however this is on Langeigne and the Vitalite Health Care.... Want to be answerable to no one and not adhere to the protocol in place and this is what you end up with..
Lou Bell
Appears ignorance is
the number one policy Vitalite' has in place at this Hospital ! Where's
their MLA on this ? He should be questioning Vitalite" policy as this
appears to be a problem in this one Hospital . Maybe they're " just too
far away from Moncton " to really be bothering with !
Terry Tibbs
Reply to @Lou Bell:
Please try a little harder Lou.
It is the Minister of Health that is DIRECTLY responsible. (You know that guy, as of late, has been missing in action since the big Higgs shuffle on hospital closings).
All ant MLA can do is inquire at the Minister's office, which is more than likely result in nothing, the MLA being a Liberal, and the Minister, well, who knows what the missing in action Minister is about?
Please try a little harder Lou.
It is the Minister of Health that is DIRECTLY responsible. (You know that guy, as of late, has been missing in action since the big Higgs shuffle on hospital closings).
All ant MLA can do is inquire at the Minister's office, which is more than likely result in nothing, the MLA being a Liberal, and the Minister, well, who knows what the missing in action Minister is about?
David Amos
Reply to @Terry Tibbs: BINGO
Christopher J Cusack
Dear Mr Vitalité CEO
Gilles Lanteigne, your frontline workers are much more apprised to how
procedures play out, you should listen to them.
David Amos
Reply to @Christopher J Cusack: Oh So True
Terry Tibbs
Terry Tibbs
Reply to @David Amos:
Both you guys are mistaken. Gilles Lanteigne's patronage position is that of sacrificial lamb. He is the disconnect between operations and politicians. If operations go south he wears it keeping the Minister of Health's hands clean.
Both you guys are mistaken. Gilles Lanteigne's patronage position is that of sacrificial lamb. He is the disconnect between operations and politicians. If operations go south he wears it keeping the Minister of Health's hands clean.
David Amos
Reply to @Terry
Tibbs: Nope Methinks the buck stops with Higgy the dude who oversees
Teddy Lanteigne is just a clever dude who is getting gone while the
getting is good N'esy Pas?
Terry Tibbs
Terry Tibbs
Reply to @David Amos:
Do you know what happened to our Minister of Health? I trust he wasn't in a fatal car accident, or something? Maybe he doesn't love us any more?
Do you know what happened to our Minister of Health? I trust he wasn't in a fatal car accident, or something? Maybe he doesn't love us any more?
David Amos
Reply to @Terry Tibbs: Methinks that lawyer never loved me for obvious reasons N'esy Pas?
James Smythe
Are we sure we can’t
cut their PPE supplies at least a little bit more, so that we can afford
to give Irving an even bigger tax break? Apparently air conditioning in
Bermuda isn’t cheap during the hot summer months. Have some compassion
you guys, multibillionaires are too warm.
David Amos
Reply to @James Smythe: Well put
Dave
Corbin
Why are hospital
administrators more interested in silencing workers concerns than
addressing those concerns as a outbreak occurs in this hospital?
Reply to @Dave
Corbin: And why did Lanteigne tell CBC yesterday that the new cases had
to do with healthcare workers, "Not being much on their guards as they
should be"? He further said that because healthcare workers are tired
and stressed, they "just go back to their normal habits and put down
their guard." He blamed everything on the workers. Now we're hearing
that the workers weren't given the resources they needed.
SarahRose Werner
SarahRose Werner
Reply to @Dave
Corbin: Lanteigne, yesterday: "He believes a number of factors
contributed to this, including health-care workers taking breaks
together throughout their shifts." Workers, today: "COVID-19 unit staff
were told to have take breaks inside a small office, where a two-metre
distance could not be met — a break room that was used by at least one
staff member who has tested positive, one employee says."
Tony Mcalbey
Tony Mcalbey
Reply to @Dave Corbin: money
David Amos
Reply to @Tony Mcalbey: Methinks everything political is always about the money everybody knows that N'esy Pas?
SarahRose
Werner
The state of
emergency was declared three months ago. Hospitals were supposed to
have gotten ready to deal with the first wave of COVID-19. Now we're
finding out that they apparently aren't ready at all. It's pure luck
that the first wave wasn't worse than it was! I suspect that the
problems we're seeing at the Campbellton Regional aren't limited to that
one hospital and rather reflect the state of preparedness - or lack
thereof - in hospitals across the province.
Tony Mcalbey
Tony Mcalbey
Reply to @SarahRose
Werner: Ms. Russell and Higgy said the province health system is
prepared. This is results of their preparedness.
Let’s open borders and everything up, the nonsense has gone on long enough.
SarahRose Werner
Let’s open borders and everything up, the nonsense has gone on long enough.
SarahRose Werner
Reply to @Tony Mcalbey: How does opening the borders improve the preparedness of the hospitals?
Tony Mcalbey
Tony Mcalbey
Reply to @SarahRose Werner: it doesn’t
Lou Bell
Lou Bell
Reply to @Tony Mcalbey: Sorry Tony , ignorance is not an option ! Any other , more sensible suggestions ?
Bruce Normand
Reply to @Tony
Mcalbey: I would not waste anytime replying to SarahRose….it must be sad
to look forward to these stories to be posted so that she can jump
in.....if she ever went into hiding, one sure way to get her to come out
would be by posting a NB Covid story! LOL
David Amos
Reply to @Bruce Normand: Methinks the lady doesn't care what many of think N'esy Pas?
Bruce Normand
Reply to @David Amos:
Methinks that if you are going to have a catch phrase, that you at
least use the proper spelling, n'est ce pas?
David Amos
Reply to @Bruce Normand: Methinks you do not understand Chiac or how the Internet works N'esy Pas?
Bruce Normand
Reply
to @David Amos: Methinks I know enough about chiac to say that your
butchering of a perfectly useful french phrase is not part of that
dialect, so that is the first portion answered. In terms of the second,
you appear to have much more practice than I, based on your recent
activity, so perhaps you could enlighten me? Or, no, scotch that. No
need.
Toby Tolly
is staff still working shifts then travelling home to all corners of the province?
Terry Tibbs
Terry Tibbs
Reply to @Toby Tolly:
And probably not just this province.
Tony Mcalbey
And probably not just this province.
Tony Mcalbey
Reply to @Toby Tolly:
yes as per the case in Fredericton. But a grandma in Amherst can’t
visit her grandchild over in sackville NB for an afternoon.
SarahRose Werner
SarahRose Werner
Reply to @Tony
Mcalbey: Healthcare workers being available to provide healthcare
benefits everyone in that health zone. Grandma's visit benefits two
people, grandma and grandchild.
Tony Mcalbey
Tony Mcalbey
Reply to @SarahRose Werner: your point ?
Lou Bell
Lou Bell
Reply to @Tony Mcalbey: She just made it . too bad you can't understand it .
Tony Mcalbey
Tony Mcalbey
Reply to @Lou Bell: lightweight
David Amos
Reply to @Tony
Mcalbey: Methinks Higgy et al knows I am a Grandpa who can't visit his
daughter and grandchildren in Amherst on Fathers Day and he don't care
N'esy Pas?
Corrie Weatherfield
Corrie Weatherfield
if the CEO of the
health unit says things are good and the employees provide evidence to
show they are not it is a good thing he has resigned but why not make
his departure immediate?
David Amos
Reply to @Corrie Weatherfield: BINGO
Mack Leigh
Mack Leigh
Reply to @Corrie Weatherfield:
And who would you suggest take over the position ? Perhaps Brian Gallant would like to return to the province ? No wait.... Victor Boudreau would fit right in and fix the mess no problem..
Belinda Anderson
And who would you suggest take over the position ? Perhaps Brian Gallant would like to return to the province ? No wait.... Victor Boudreau would fit right in and fix the mess no problem..
Belinda Anderson
I was in Fredericton
on the weekend at the Blue Canoe and there were cars from Ontario and I
was behind them when they went into the restaurant no mask no
questions asked and when I went back outside the men where talking
about how easy it was to get across the N.B. border so if we allow
people in the virus will spread.I think that people that cross our
borders should have to sign a paper with address ,where they are going
and how long they are staying because N.B. will be in trouble
..
Lou Bell
Lou Bell
Reply to @Belinda
Anderson: So why didn't you take their plate numbers and report them if
you were so concerned ? And how were you close enough to get in on their
conversation ? Or was this just a fabrication to make some kind of
point ?
David Amos
Reply to @Lou Bell: Methinks some folks say snitches get stitches I say they should just get sued N'esy Pas?
Rob Belyea
Rob Belyea
WorksafeNB needs to close that Campbellton hospital if Vitalité can't operate it safely.
SarahRose Werner
SarahRose Werner
Reply to @Rob Belyea: Which would then require shipping COVID-19 patients from Zone 5 to hospitals in other zones.
David Amos
Reply to @Rob Belyea: Oh My methinks that taking things a little too far N'esy Pas?
Holly Mossing
Holly Mossing
This is what happens
when journalists give terrified staff the floor without understanding
the science: fogging glasses aren’t a sign that you can “breathe in
droplets”... it means water vapor is escaping from your mask as it
should, for example. The PPE protocols are sound, when followed. But
they’re also exhausting to follow for months on end, and “shortcuts”
become commonplace by staff just to help us get through. This is a good
reminder to stay vigilant.
Jake Quinlan
Jake Quinlan
Reply to @Holly Mossing: Maybe the staff need some refreshers on PPE from staff educators.
David Amos
Reply to @Jake Quinlan: Good point
Winston Gray
Winston Gray
These are unionized employees, society needs to remember this when people start attacking unions again.
Jake Quinlan
Jake Quinlan
Reply to @Winston
Gray: Not rhetorical, but can you explain the relevance of unionized
employees vs. non-unionized in this situation ?
Winston
Gray
Reply to @Jake
Quinlan: I just want people to remember this moment that unions can try
to protect workers, but they often can't.
There are a lot of anti-unionists who think that unions are more powerful than they are, are more rich than they are, and are the cause of all our problems.
In the reality Unions help workers and restore the balance.
There are a lot of anti-unionists who think that unions are more powerful than they are, are more rich than they are, and are the cause of all our problems.
In the reality Unions help workers and restore the balance.
David Amos
Reply to @Winston Gray: Dream on
Luna Of Of the Stars
Luna Of Of the Stars
There seems to be a
systemic issue with Vitalité and it's operation of the Campbellton
Regional Hospital and adjacent psychiatric hospital (Restigouche
hospital centre) In the last 12 -18 month we have heard through media
about proposed half a BILLION dollar Class Action law suit against RHC,
the Campbellton ER, obstetrics and other standard services closing for
various reasons since the Fall, the apparent internal operational
disagreements and resignations within the Board of Directors for
Vitalite apparently related to Campbellton operations, the Ombudsmen
report detailing concerning issues within the RHC regarding care of
patients, deaths of patients within the psychiatric hospital and now
COVID related concerns (infections, locums.)
Soothing eloquent sounding words are cheap and superficial statistics are easily tweaked and massaged so as to present a positive narrative for the sender of the message.
How exactly does Vitalité explain the apparent large number of staff infected from a relatively small number of known COVID cases in hospital (many other hospitals in Canada to compare to on this?). You can't simply say 'we are confident in our approach' while at the same time taking severe steps like CLOSING the emergency services and large chunks of the hospital and shipping emergency cases to an adjacent Region. It doesn't add up.
At some point, this organization requires external objective review. As a taxpayer I am appalled that this has been permitted to continue as long as It has.
If the powers that be are unwilling to initiate such a review - then I would ask: what critical event(s) must happen before you will consider this?
To zone 5 front line staff with the courage to speak out, thank you.
Chris
Soothing eloquent sounding words are cheap and superficial statistics are easily tweaked and massaged so as to present a positive narrative for the sender of the message.
How exactly does Vitalité explain the apparent large number of staff infected from a relatively small number of known COVID cases in hospital (many other hospitals in Canada to compare to on this?). You can't simply say 'we are confident in our approach' while at the same time taking severe steps like CLOSING the emergency services and large chunks of the hospital and shipping emergency cases to an adjacent Region. It doesn't add up.
At some point, this organization requires external objective review. As a taxpayer I am appalled that this has been permitted to continue as long as It has.
If the powers that be are unwilling to initiate such a review - then I would ask: what critical event(s) must happen before you will consider this?
To zone 5 front line staff with the courage to speak out, thank you.
Chris
Reply to @Luna Of Of the Stars: Where there's signs of smoke there is usually fire.
Looking at it in a general sense there certainly seems to be a problem or multiple problems. Regional? Local? Management? Clinical? Staffing? Infrastructure?
The question is what are they and how confident are we that any potentially problematic system is able to adequately and objectively assess and fix itself. In general, those systems which help create and perpetuate a problem are usually poor candidates for fixing said problem!!
What is clear is that taxpayers continue to fund this situation. Lets hope it is money well spent.
Jake Quinlan
Looking at it in a general sense there certainly seems to be a problem or multiple problems. Regional? Local? Management? Clinical? Staffing? Infrastructure?
The question is what are they and how confident are we that any potentially problematic system is able to adequately and objectively assess and fix itself. In general, those systems which help create and perpetuate a problem are usually poor candidates for fixing said problem!!
What is clear is that taxpayers continue to fund this situation. Lets hope it is money well spent.
Jake Quinlan
Reply to @Chris .: I
wonder if those "in charge" of the other hospitals around NB say a
little thank you to their deity of choice each night that their building
has been spared.....lol. I would :-)
David Amos
Reply to @Luna Of Of the Stars: Do you register to vote with that name???
David Amos
Reply to @Jake Quinlan: What if they have no deity to thank?
Terry
Tibbs
Aren't we forgetting somebody?
If a place of work is unsafe, isn't that determination up to WorkSafe NB?
Might as well get ALL concerned/should be concerned involved?
If a place of work is unsafe, isn't that determination up to WorkSafe NB?
Might as well get ALL concerned/should be concerned involved?
David Amos
Reply to @Terry Tibbs: Surely you jest
Terry
Tibbs
Reply to @David Amos:
Might just as well throw some more confused sorta government employees at it?
Might just as well throw some more confused sorta government employees at it?
David Amos
Reply to @Terry Tibbs: I concur
Derek Grant
Derek Grant
There are too many
inferior grades of "surgical masks". They are a very deregulated product
and even the top-of-the-line surgical mask does not come close to
filtering airborne particulate as per a 3M respiratory protector. I
would not work in a Covid-19 infected workplace without a daily supply
of N-95 masks at my side.
David Amos
Reply to @Derek Grant: Exactly
doug kirby
Seems someone hasn’t
stayed in the loop with the mask requirement. It’s been stated since the
beginning which masks must be used. So public health obviously make
their own rules up. Here is another example of staff stating their
concern but those in charge decide they aren’t exactly telling the
truth..this is the exact same atmosphere that’s happened in all long
term care homes...someone on the outside are basically telling staff
it’s good enough what safety precautions your allowed to take...N.S. did
the same with Northwood...their public health called the employees fear
mongers...so good luck workers...your on your own however you can do
it...be the voice for those affected
David Amos
Reply to @doug kirby: Well put
Bill Hamilton
Bill Hamilton
Someone in charge of the Campbellton hospital should loose their high paying job.
Campbellton lives matter.
Campbellton lives matter.
Terry
Tibbs
Reply to @Bill Hamilton:
An interesting thought.
Just who is in "charge" at ANY hospital you visit? The "healers", or the politically appointed desk operating do nothings? Maybe a combination of both? If it is a combination how is it weighted? There is a major problem here (and I think in most hospitals), there also seems to be many secrets.
Jake Quinlan
An interesting thought.
Just who is in "charge" at ANY hospital you visit? The "healers", or the politically appointed desk operating do nothings? Maybe a combination of both? If it is a combination how is it weighted? There is a major problem here (and I think in most hospitals), there also seems to be many secrets.
Jake Quinlan
Reply to @Terry Tibbs: Well put.
David Amos
Reply to @Terry Tibbs: Methinks Teddy and his boss Higgy are the dudes in charge lately N'esy Pas?
Terry
Tibbs
Reply to @David Amos:
And neither one fit to be put in charge of a push-bike.
And neither one fit to be put in charge of a push-bike.
David Amos
Reply to @Terry Tibbs: Where did Jake go?
David Amos
Reply to @Terry
Tibbs: BTW I just got another interesting call this time it was from a
former MLA about something I was dealing with a couple of days ago
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