Latest news with #MichaelHurley
CTV News
7 days ago
- Health
- CTV News
Union renews call for implementation of nurse-to-patient ratios in Ontario hospitals
FILE - A nurse is silhouetted behind a glass panel as she tends to a patient in the Intensive Care Unit at an Ontario hospital, on Tuesday, January 25, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young The union representing Ontario hospital workers plans to propose new mandatory nurse-to-patient ratios during bargaining talks next month after a new study showed that doing so would help address the staffing crisis in health-care facilities. The peer-reviewed study was published on Aug. 8 and was conducted in collaboration with the Ontario Council of Hospital Unions/Canadian Union of Public Employees (OCHU/CUPE). It was based, in part, on interviews with 26 Ontario healthcare workers. Michael Hurley, the president of CUPE's Ontario Council of Hospital Unions (OCHU), said the study underscores the need for a 'fundamental change' in the form of staffing ratios despite the ongoing opposition by hospital managements. 'Ratios will bring thousands of nurses who have left the profession in despair back to work. Adopting ratios in bargaining will push the provincial government to fund and staff its hospitals properly. For patients and for nurses, it is time for this fundamental change,' Hurley said, claiming that hospitals reject ratios as they will restrict their ability to understaff. The Ontario Nurses Association has previously called for a ratio of one nurse to every four patients for acute medical and surgical units and a one-to-one ratio for intensive care units. The study states that improved nurse–patient ratios 'would help to alleviate burnout, thus reducing attrition and improving the quality and timeliness of patient care.' The authors looked into existing research on staffing levels, conducted interviews with many Ontario hospital nurses and examined other jurisdictions with staffing mandates in coming to the findings. 'The evidence shows that nurse-patient ratios save lives,' Dr. Jim Brophy, who co-authored the study, said in a statement. 'Assigning nurses a manageable workload ensures patients receive appropriate care, which in a high-stakes hospital environment can mean the difference between life and death.' He added that ratios result in a positive impact on patient care with lower levels of medical errors, decreased risk of infections and lower readmission rates. Another author, Dr. Margaret Keith, noted that nurse-to-patient ratios would address the nursing shortage in the province, as they would reduce injury rates and burnout and reduce the moral stress of not being able to provide proper care. 'Addressing these factors would tremendously improve the retention and recruitment problem in Ontario's hospitals,' Keith said in a statement. 'We know that attrition rates are very high in Ontario, and this solution could help stem the bleeding.' According to the union, nurse vacancy rates in Ontario climbed to 43 per cent between 2022 and 2024. Authors also found that having nurse-to-patient ratios could result in savings by reducing reliance on for-profit staffing agencies. A separate study released in May showed that hospitals have paid $9.2 billion over the last decade to those agencies. OCHU represents about 45,000 workers employed in hospitals and long-term care facilities, including registered practical nurses, one of whom is Rachel Fleming. She said inadequate staffing ratios have taken a devastating toll on patients and nurses. 'Every day, we're being forced to make choices that go against everything we believe as caregivers,' said Fleming. 'When you can't give medication on time, when a patient goes without a bath or the comfort of someone simply listening to them, when you can't even answer a call bell because you're torn between other patients in desperate need—it breaks your spirit,' Fleming said. She added that many nurses are leaving the job because it's become 'unbearable.'
Yahoo
26-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
HEAT CHECK: Sox reportedly won't make ‘large-scale' deadline moves
Mike Felger and Michael Hurley react to reports that the Red Sox won't be making any 'large-scale' moves at the trade deadline. HEAT CHECK: Sox reportedly won't make 'large-scale' deadline moves originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
Yahoo
26-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Felger: Red Sox' attitude towards deadline improvement is ‘gross'
Mike Felger and Michael Hurley rip the Red Sox after recent reports say the team thinks improving at the trade deadline isn't 'efficient' business. Felger: Red Sox' attitude towards deadline improvement is 'gross' originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
CTV News
20-06-2025
- Health
- CTV News
Providing public health care dollars to private clinics for surgeries resulting in health inequality: Union
A union says the plan by the Ford government to continue expanding hospital services to include more for-profit clinics will lead to a wider gap in health equit The head of CUPE's Ontario Council of Hospital Unions (OCHU) is on a cross-province tour with a senior researcher highlighting data compiled on impacts within health care. 'We believe if the public is more familiar with the details of this [government] policy it will lose popular support, and the government will have to reconsider it,' Michael Hurley, CUPE regional vice president in Ontario, said to media in Sudbury on Thursday. Michael Hurley of CUPE's Ontario Council of Hospital Unions discusses research in Sudbury on private clinic surgeries Michael Hurley of CUPE's Ontario Council of Hospital Unions discusses research in Sudbury on private clinic surgeries. June 19, 2025 (Angela Gemmill/CTV Northern Ontario 'So, I think we have to wear them down over time, to be honest with you.' Five years ago, the Conservative government approved plans to allow public health care dollars to go to private for-profit clinics to perform cataract surgeries, stating it would help reduce wait times. Last year, the Ministry of Health announced that private clinics could also perform hip and knee surgeries covered by the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP). The union said data from the Canadian Institute for Health Information shows that wait times have worsened since 2020. It's also concerned that gaps in health inequality will grow wider. 'Twenty per cent of the population, the wealthiest 20 per cent, actually saw a significant increase in cataract surgery access with the increased funding. Whereas every other demographic group -- the other four quintiles -- saw less access to care. Worst of all among the poorest among us,' said Doug Allan, a CUPE senior researcher. 'For example, we know in Sudbury that there is significant inequality in terms of access to cataract surgery based on your income and that level of marginalization in the community.' CUPE researcher Doug Allan CUPE researcher Doug Allan discusses research in Sudbury on private clinic surgeries. June 19, 2025 (Angela Gemmill/CTV Northern Ontario The union also said many of the private, for-profit clinics upsell or charge user fees. In fact, after hearing numerous complaints from her constituents in Nickel Belt who were charged add-on fees for extras during their surgeries, the NDP health critic, MPP France Gelinas, issued an open letter to Health Minister Sylvia Jones. Gelinas said many of the fees charged by private for-profit clinics are in violation of the Canada Health Act. France Gelinas France Gelinas, Ontario health critic and Nickel Belt MPP. June 19, 2025 (Angela Gemmill/CTV Northern Ontario She told CTV News that patients who are in need of cataract surgery are seniors on a fixed income who don't have an extra $600 to $1,200. 'The surgeon is about to put a laser to your eye and says to you that he prefers to use this [special lens]. You don't argue. You're not in a position to bargain, you just pay,' Gelinas said. 'If you are really rich, this is perfect. You will pay to be at the front of the line and you will get really good access. If you're like the rest of us, not very rich, the wait times will be longer in our public hospital.' In an email to CTV, News a Ministry of Health spokesperson said, 'Ontario is leading the county with some of shortest wait times for critical surgeries and procedures,' adding 32,000 people received 'publicly funded cataract surgery at community surgical and diagnostic centres' last year. 'Our government will continue to deliver more connected, convenient care in every corner of the province, always ensuring that people are accessing the care they need with their OHIP card, never their credit card,' a statement from the ministry reads. Statement from Ontario Ministry of Health on private clinic surgeries Statement from Ontario Ministry of Health on private clinic surgeries. June 19, 2025 (Angela Gemmill/CTV Northern Ontario The email also stated that Ontario has legislated provisions that prohibit a patient from being charged for an OHIP covered service.
Hamilton Spectator
19-06-2025
- Health
- Hamilton Spectator
Union says private surgical clinics move the wealthy to the front of the line
As the province expands use of private surgical clinics , a union is raising alarm about research showing wealthy Ontarians going to the front of the line for cataract operations. 'The wealthiest have increased access to surgeries and middle-class and lower-class people do not,' Michael Hurley, president of the Ontario Council of Hospital Unions (OCHU), said during a recent stop in Hamilton to raise awareness. 'What we're trying to do is deepen public understanding of the consequences of these surgeries. They redirect access to those who can afford it the most.' The union's claims are backed up by a study — involving a McMaster University researcher — that found the rate of cataract surgeries rose 22 per cent for patients with the highest socioeconomic status at private for-profit surgical centres. Meanwhile, the rate fell 8.5 per cent for those with the lowest socioeconomic status, concluded the study led by Ontario research institute ICES and published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ) in August 2024. In stark contrast, no difference in access between the wealthy and the poor was found in public hospitals by the research that examined 935,729 cataract surgeries in Ontario from January 2017 to March 2022. 'We observed a large difference in socioeconomic status of patients undergoing cataract surgery in private for-profit surgical centres compared with those treated in public hospitals,' concluded the study. The researchers stated that addressing this difference is 'vital to ensure access to surgery and maintain public confidence in the cataract surgery system.' Expanding the role of private for-profit surgical centres is one way the Progressive Conservative government is addressing surgical backlogs created by the COVID-19 pandemic. Last year, 32,000 Ontarians got their publicly-funded cataract surgery at a private clinic. Ontario's May budget earmarked $280 million over two years to further increase care paid by OHIP but provided at private clinics, including diagnostic imaging, endoscopy procedures and orthopedic surgeries. 'The business models of such centres in Canada have traditionally involved billing public insurance programs for the surgeon fee and also charging patients for extra services that are priced to offset overhead costs for operating rooms and generate profit,' the study stated about cataract surgeries. 'Consequently, moving surgical cases out of public hospitals and into private for-profit centres could have a negative effect on access to surgery for patients who are unable to pay.' An investigation by the Toronto Star published on June 7 found patients going for cataract surgery at private clinics felt they had to pay between a couple of hundred and thousands of dollars out of pocket to bypass reportedly long wait times or receive better treatment such as upgraded lenses. The story raised questions about whether there are sufficient guardrails in place to make sure patients don't feel pressured to pay out of pocket for upgrades they may not need. The ICES study also spoke about the need for increased 'safeguards' to ensure patients don't miss out on the chance to get timely care in a private facility because they can't afford to pay for extras and upgrades. 'Surgeons and private for-profit centres also have financial incentives to prioritize patients paying for extra services,' stated the study. 'Finally, surgeons working in private for-profit centres may have practices that focus on referrals for patients with a greater ability to pay for extra uninsured services.' Ontario has provisions through legislation that prohibit a patient from being charged for an OHIP-covered service. In addition, Bill 60 passed in 2023 with the aim of increasing transparency and ensuring there are no extra charges for OHIP-funded procedures. 'People are accessing the care they need with their OHIP card, never their credit card,' Ema Popovic, spokesperson for Health Minister Sylvia Jones, said in a statement. 'If someone has been charged for an OHIP-covered service, they can contact the Commitment to the Future of Medicare Act program to open a review. Those who have been charged for an insured service will be reimbursed in full.' But many people have been 'manipulated' into paying for extras at private clinics, said OCHU, which is part of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE). 'I strongly suspect that a big part of the factor of why there has been such inequality in access at the for-profit clinics is that there are these various charges that come along and that just naturally weeds out people,' said Doug Allan, a researcher with CUPE. The union commissioned Nanos Research to do an online survey of 1,017 Ontario adults between May 27 and June 1 that found two-thirds of respondents from the Golden Horseshoe West, which included Hamilton, agreed that expanded for-profit cataract surgeries will have a negative impact on access to care for the poorest people. The survey is accurate within 3.1 percentage points, plus or minus, 19 times out of 20. 'In Ontario public hospitals, it didn't matter what your income was in terms of treatment,' Hurley said. 'The whole point is supposed to be that irrespective of income, we're making decisions based upon medical need.' Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. 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