RNAO’s ongoing media profile: Your October 2024 report

Throughout the month of October, RNAO’s president and CEO were featured in media stories related to supervised consumption services (SCS) closures, national pharmacare, the provincial fall economic statement and more.

RNAO CEO Dr. Doris Grinspun joined other prominent Torontonians (including several former mayors) in signing a letter (Oct. 1) opposing Premier Ford’s decision to gut SCS sites. The signatories said: “We call on the government to reverse its decision to close SCS and to instead adopt the recommendations from its own commissioned studies: fund the opening of more sites, provide adequate security, and support integrated treatment services.” To amplify the call, Grinspun and several of the signatories shared the letter at a media conference at Queen’s Park on Oct. 1. During the media conference, Grinspun spoke about the importance of harm reduction and keeping SCS sites open. “Safe sites, safe communities. That’s the reality,” said Grinspun. Download, print and circulate our petition to urge the government to continue operating SCS.

RNAO expressed concern in response to a column by writer Marcus Gee about involuntary treatment for individuals with mental illness and substance use disorders. In a letter to Globe and Mail (Oct. 13), Grinspun said this isn’t the solution for people who are ill or unhoused, who pose no danger to themselves or the public. “Nurses call for the immediate, substantive and sustained funding of community mental health, affordable and accessible housing and wraparound community-based support,” said Grinspun.

On Oct. 10, the Senate voted in favour of Bill C-64, which lays the foundation for a universal, publicly funded single-payer pharmacare system. In a media release (Oct. 10), RNAO President NP Lhamo Dolkar said that this is a crucial step in the right direction, but more must be done. “Canadians must demand the program be expanded to cover all necessary medications for everyone. Without pressure, this program could stagnate or even be rolled back.” Grinspun told HR Reporter (Oct. 14) that “securing health care is an ongoing struggle. It is the persistent advocacy of civil society organizations, health professionals, community groups, and patient advocates that has brought us to this historic point. This collective action kept the dream of pharmacare alive for years, and it will carry us through to a truly universal program.”

Dolkar was a panelist on TVO’s The Agenda (Oct. 17) to discuss the ongoing nursing shortage and hospitals’ reliance on staffing agencies. “If you are going to look at agency nursing...it’s a huge health-care cost. It’s a bigger problem, the cost is just the tip of the iceberg,” said Dolkar. She also spoke about the need to retain and recruit nurses in Ontario. “Just hiring is never enough. Nurses have to take care of themselves. It’s a profession that has a high potential for burnout.”. She highlighted that nurses must have a healthy work environment and safe workloads to keep them in Ontario’s nursing workforce.

On Oct. 17, RNAO released the third edition of its Diabetic Foot Ulcers: Prevention, Assessment, and Management BPG. Benefits and Pensions Monitor’s story (Oct. 21) about the new edition quotes Grinspun: “Diabetic foot ulcers are one of the most common and serious complications of diabetes, and up to 34 percent of people with diabetes will develop a diabetic foot ulcer during their lifetime… (This new edition BPG) will continue to improve wellbeing and quality of life for many in Ontario, Canada and around the globe.” The BPG is available for free download.

RNAO shared a media release on Oct. 24 in response to members of Ontario’s legislature debating proposed legislation amid a primary care crisis that would seek to penalize NPs for billing outside of provisions laid out in the Commitment to the Future of Medicare Act, 2004. “Our politicians should focus on ways to compensate NPs fairly within our publicly funded system,” said Dolkar.

The Ontario government released its fall economic statement on Oct. 30. In response, RNAO issued a media release to highlight how the government fails to champion nurses to solve the primary care crisis. “When you have two and a half million people without access to a regular care provider, and we don’t embrace NPs and RNs as a key solution, Ontarians ought to be concerned,” said Dolkar. The economic statement also does nothing to lift people who rely on the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) out of poverty. “Instead of improving the lives of some of Ontario’s most vulnerable people, the government is choosing to hand out $200 cheques to 15 million people, regardless of their income level, while those on ODSP struggle on average monthly payments of $1,400. Where is the logic and dignity in that?” said Grinspun.

RNAO continues to speak out alongside its members on topics related to nursing and health. Stay up-to-date on media coverage by visiting RNAO in the news. If you’re interested in speaking with reporters on issues related to nursing, health and health care, complete a short survey.