The government’s decision to have hospitals compete with independent health facilities for the right to deliver services ranging from cataracts to colonoscopies is among the most controversial health care decisions to emerge recently from the Wynne government. The Ontario Health … Continue reading →
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OPSEU Diablogue: Stumped – Kingston’s Providence Care erases memorial to former staff
“It felt like digging up his grave,” said Terry Haffner. A housekeeper at Kingston’s Providence Care, Haffner was disturbed to find a memorial garden to long-serving staff had been cut down and the plaques removed by the hospital without any … Continue reading →
Continue readingOPSEU Diablogue: You probably don’t want to read about this — but should
Nobody wants to talk about it yet 50 per cent of those who experience it are likely to lose their jobs. In Alberta one in five employees reported its impact on their workplace. That impact is said to cost employers … Continue reading →
Continue readingOPSEU Diablogue: Two-tier “Alberta Chaoulli” goes down to defeat in courts
The so-called “Alberta Chaoulli” challenge to single-tier health care has been defeated in the courts. The Ultra-Conservative Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedom (JCCF) had sponsored two cases in that province that suggested Canada’s single tier health system represented a monopoly … Continue reading →
Continue readingOPSEU Diablogue: Alexandra Hospital: Of truckers and outpatient labs
The Alexandra Hospital has a rather unique demographic. Located in Ingersoll, just off the 401 nestled between Kitchener and London, we’re told the hospital’s outpatient services are used frequently by truckers. Recently hospital staff learned that the hospital lab would … Continue reading →
Continue readingOPSEU Diablogue: Was Monday really a tipping point?
On Monday I saw Ontario Health Coalition Director Natalie Mehra at a noon-hour rally on University Avenue. As far as rallies go it wasn’t a big one. About 50 people showed up to hold up signs urging motorists to honk … Continue reading →
Continue readingOPSEU Diablogue: The wake for the Health Accord was great, but what’s next?
There’s got to be a morning after. Yesterday more than 40 communities across Canada marked the end of the 10-year health accord between the provinces and the federal government. Listening to actress Shirley Douglas speak last night at one of those … Continue reading →
Continue readingOPSEU Diablogue: Health Accord: End of 10-year agreement sad reflection on leadership
Today is it. It’s the last day in which we can claim to have a national plan towards health care reform. Starting tomorrow the Harper government is simply cutting the cheques and walking away from the table, leaving the provinces … Continue reading →
Continue readingOPSEU Diablogue: Sunshine List overlooks thousands of private contractors: OPSEU
TORONTO – Ontarians aren’t getting a clear picture of government pay practices from the Public Sector Salary Disclosure Act, the president of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union says. “Today’s release of the ‘Sunshine List’ doesn’t show tens of thousands … Continue reading →
Continue readingOPSEU Diablogue: High-profile line-up featured in Holler 4 Health Care March 31
You don’t want to miss this. More than 30 performers –including some of the most prominent actors in Canadian theatre – will be participating in Holler 4 Health Care March 31st in Toronto. March 31st coincides with the end of … Continue reading →
Continue readingOPSEU Diablogue: Scarborough hospital CEO says “never say never” on merger
The two CEOs representing the Scarborough and Rouge Valley hospitals appeared before the Central East LHIN this morning following news last week that their proposed merger was off – at least for now. Both Rik Ganderton and Robert Biron looked … Continue reading →
Continue readingOPSEU Diablogue: Who do you complain to? New regulation expands complaints process but also adds confusion
Making a complaint within a health care setting has always been a delicate process. It used to be in home care the terms of your service suggested that if you complained too much, you could actually lose service. This may … Continue reading →
Continue readingOPSEU Diablogue: Martin scores big on frustration of Canadians waiting to see our health system defended in the U.S.
It must have truly hurt The National Post to admit that Canadian doctor Danielle Martin “held her own” before a U.S. Senate subcommittee hearing earlier this month on comparative health systems. Albeit the NP’s Tristan Hopper did say she did … Continue reading →
Continue readingOPSEU Diablogue: Take Action: Swift passage of Act needed to stop paid plasma donation in Ontario
It’s been almost two years since we stumbled upon a plan by a private for-profit company to open a series of clinics that would pay Canadian donors for plasma. The last voluntary dedicated plasma collection center operated by Canadian Blood … Continue reading →
Continue readingOPSEU Diablogue: Province needs to look at evidence around hospital mergers
Murray Martin should change his name to Dr. Doom. Now in retirement, the former CEO of Hamilton Health Sciences is full of swagger about tough choices for health care, suggesting rising interest rates would pressure the government into making big … Continue reading →
Continue readingOPSEU Diablogue: Kingston’s Lydia McPherson pitches public hospitals to the Premier
Last spring we were pleased to be part of the Ontario Health Coalition’s plebiscite campaign asking Kingston residents whether they wanted the new mental health and rehab hospital to remain entirely in public hands. At the time the province was … Continue reading →
Continue readingOPSEU Diablogue: Price too high for Scarborough-Rouge hospitals to sustain merger plan
In the end the price was too much. The merger between the Scarborough and Rouge Valley hospitals appears to be sidelined after months of intense activity including unprecedented community consultation. March 15 The Scarborough Hospital board passed a resolution that … Continue reading →
Continue readingOPSEU Diablogue: Freedhoff says Heart & Stroke Foundation should be ashamed of themselves
Ottawa’s Dr. Yoni Freedhoff wonders why the Heart and Stroke Foundation would endorse a product for your children that’s basically “sugar, water and marketing.” Freedhoff’s says two servings of Sunrype’s FruitSource is the equivalent of eating 34 teaspoons of sugar. … Continue reading →
Continue readingOPSEU Diablogue: Action Plan Year 2: Progress report more politics than substance
Reflecting on two years of “progress” under Ontario’s Health Action Plan, Health Minister Deb Matthews published her list of “accomplishments” in an on-line pamphlet posted in January. After two years there’s not a lot to show. Some of the list … Continue reading →
Continue readingOPSEU Diablogue: Niagara – Moderate PCs unhappy with radical right policies could send a message Thursday
Tomorrow two provincial by-elections are taking place in Niagara and Thornhill. Thornhill, the vacated seat of Peter Shurman, is expected to remain Tory blue despite criticism by the departing MPP of his former party. He recently described the Hudak Conservatives … Continue reading →
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