BCNU is calling on candidates to commit to nurse-to-patient ratios for a stronger public health-care system
By Contributor
As candidates from all political parties lay out their health-care priorities ahead of the provincial election on Oct. 19, the BC Nurses’ Union in a media release the union is calling on all election candidates to sign a pledge and demonstrate their support for the implementation of minimum nurse-to-patient ratios across all care settings in BC.
The BCNU said that since March, nurse union leaders, the provincial government and the Health Employers Association of BC (HEABC) have made significant progress towards determining minimum ratios for nearly all care areas in acute care settings, including making BC the first jurisdiction in the world to adopt a minimum staffing standard of one nurse for every four patients in medical/surgical units 24 hours per day, seven days per week.
BCNU President Adriane Gear says she’s optimistic about the progress made between the union, the province and HEABC, noting that minimum nurse-to-patient ratios are an evidence-based, cost-effective policy solution to address BC’s nurse staffing shortage and save lives.
“We are asking all election candidates to support minimum nurse-to-patient ratios to help retain and recruit the nurses BC needs and ensure our public health-care system has enough nurses to deliver high-quality care to everyone, when they need it.”
Gear says BCNU is encouraging voters to cast their ballots for candidates committed to strengthening the province’s public health-care system. The union has also launched an awareness campaign to educate the public on the benefits of nurse-to-patient ratios.
“It is concerning to hear some candidates supporting increased privatization of health care,” she says.
“BC has a lot of work to do to fix health care, but nurses know privatization will only make it worse, pulling staff and resources away from the public system to serve those who can afford to pay for care. We need solutions like staffing ratios to strengthen our public-health care system, so that it works better for everyone.”
Voters can visit the union’s provincial election 2024 web page to learn more about BCNU’s key asks ahead of Oct.19.
