Wendy Brigham, Holly Heffernan and Mairi Gordon from Local 121 show Stephen Duckett and Dr. Chris Eagle (right) some of their safety concerns at the Rockyview Hospital.
Nurses at the Rockyview Hospital in Calgary have been raising Occupational Health and Safety concerns about the overcrowding caused by “over-complement” beds for nearly a year. Following the OH&S provisions of the provincial Collective Agreement, they finally took their concerns directly to the Alberta Health Services Board in March.
“This is very serious,” was the comment from Alberta Health Services Board chair Ken Hughes at the meeting, and brand-new CEO Stephen Duckett, suggested UNA members join him to tour the facility.
In the end, AHS Vice Presidents, Brenda Huband and Chris Eagle and several other representatives toured the Rockview with Heather Smith and the Local 121 nurses. They all saw the cluttered corridors, converted treatment rooms, and patients installed in lounges.
“It was important for Dr. Duckett to see first-hand the major capacity problems we are facing,” Heather Smith said after the tour. “It’s not just the Rockyview, and I’m sure he realizes this.”
“I was encouraged by the attentiveness and the attention to detail,” said Local Treasurer and OH&S Committee member, Mairi Gordon. “He [Duckett] didn’t gloss over the units. He does take it very seriously.”
“There were three patients in a patient lounge with screens up and blocking the fire escape,” says Local Vice President Cynthia Perkins. “It was pretty appalling. It was an eyeopener for them.”
Both Mairi Gordon and Cynthia Perkins were somewhat optimistic. “We’ll see what they come up with,” Cynthia Perkins said after the tour.
Rockyview Nurses and Heather Smith with new Alberta Health Services CEO Stephen Duckett on the Rockyview tour. (l to r) Mairi Gordon, Wendy Brigham, Cynthia Perkins, Stephen Duckett, Heather Smith and Holly Heffernan.
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