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2- The Oakville Beaver, Friday September 26, 2008 www.oakvillebeaver.com Workers urge province to increase long term care funding Continued from page 1 are also being chalked up to staff being overwhelmed by the sheer volume of people they have to care for. "Many residents require 12-18 pills per pass. With as many as 20,000 pills dispensed per week at the Waterford, medication errors by rushed RPNs (Registered Practical Nurses) are virtually inevitable," states a piece of OFHCW literature. The Waterford, at 2140 Baronwood Dr., currently houses 168 residents and is run by a staff of around 200. Guzzo could not say how many more staff would be required to establish, what she would consider, a proper level of care, but noted the existing level has to be increased. "On average, on a home area of 28 people there might be two to three PSWs (Personal Service Workers) and one RPN, providing all levels of care to these residents including their meal time, delivering their laundry, cleaning their rooms. It's just not enough," she said. "When we're sick, there's no one to replace us. So, those who remain just have to work one body short, but they're still required to do the same amount of work. It's just not possible." You Are Invited! ART SHOW Traditional Canadiana Paintings, Landscape & Floral By Sally Durie (SCA) Society of Canadian Artists ­ honorary lifetime member at Sally's private home studio RiverCrest 66 Rancliffe Rd., Oakville L6H 1B2 Sat Sept 27th, Sun Sept 28th 1:00pm ­ 5:00pm Call (905) 842-5727 for questions or directions www.sallydurie.com Guzzo also noted the compassionate nature of the staff at facilities like the Waterford is working against them with workers often putting in extra hours for which they are not compensated. "Especially in the dietary department, they tend to start half an hour early, work right through their breaks and clock out late and they're not paid for it," she said. "We try to educate our members that they've got to stop giving away this time for free or we'll never get anywhere, but it's the nature of the beast. We got into health care for a reason." Halton MPP Ted Chudleigh said he tried to address the issue back in March by writing a letter to then Minister of Health, George Smitherman, encouraging him to increase the funding for specialized care in the upcoming budget. "The provincial bill would come to about $513 million and that would move the specialized care per resident from just over two hours to close to three hours daily," he said. "That would make a significant difference in the RON KUZYK / OAKVILLE BEAVER PROTEST: Nancy Guzzo, spokesperson for the Ontario Federation of Health Care Workers (front) was joined by other union members in an information picket line in front of the Waterford Long Term Care Centre in Oakville on Tuesday. support staff that handle ing power five years ago the These changes created meal preparation, house- Liberal government has around 12 million more keeping and nursing servic- increased funding to long- hours of available hands-on es. This has been an ongoing term care by more than $1 care. issue, it's one that was billion. "I think you could make a addressed somewhat in last Flynn also noted that good argument that there is year's budget, but this was long-term care funding more to do, but I think you less than half of what the increased by $300 million could make an equally good experts in this field told us this year alone. argument that compared to was needed." He said, since 2003, the the rest of the parties we've Oakville MPP Kevin government has provided done an awful lot," said Flynn noted that since tak- funding for 6,000 new staff Flynn. "We will keep doing for long-term care facilities it." of whom just under 2,500 Flynn noted that governwere full-time nurses. ment is also trying to make it In 2008, another 1,000 so more people will not have RPN positions were created to go to long-term care facilwith every long-term care ities by providing patients facility in Ontario receiving with support for an `Aging at at least one. Home Strategy.' Carpet Cleaning Specialists Since 1952 Spot! RESIDENTIAL & COMMERCIAL WALL TO WALL FURNITURE & UPHOLSTERY AREA RUGS PERSIAN & ORIENTAL Truck Mount In-Plant Service Water Damage Restoration 25% Drop-off Discount! FREE 250 ml SPOTTING BOTTLE www.onthespotcleaning.ca 321 Cornwall Road, Olde Oakville Market Place (next to Whole Foods) 905.815.8777 OAKVILLE WATERLOO 1446 WALLACE RD., OAKVILLE, ON Bronte t 905-825-4256 QEW W Speers Wallace