The Ontario Nurses Association has requested the Ministry of Health conduct a review of the Grey Bruce Health Unit.
President Linda Haslam Stroud tells Bayshore Broadcasting News they want the Ministry to ensure its mandated health programs are being provided.
Haslam Stroud says they also want Health Minister David Caplan to look into the quality of health unit management and its decisions.
Haslam Stroud feels the Grey Bruce Health Unit is not investing its money wisely and meeting the province’s commitment to provide managed programs.
She points to the new 17 million dollar new headquarters on Owen Sound’s waterfront.
The Health Unit has laid off four part time and two full time nurses.
Haslam Stroud claims that has resulted in a 20 to 25 per cent reduction in all programs and services.
For example — Haslam Stroud says public health nurses are now only visiting high risk mothers and their newborn babies at their homes.
Before — public health nurses would visit all newborns and their mothers.
Haslam Stroud says it’s not fair that other new mothers and their babies have to drive to the Health Unit to have their family’s health assessed.
Haslam Stroud also claims staff are frustrated they can not provide the level of service to Grey Bruce residents.
The Grey Bruce Board of Health claims it did not receive as much money from the province as expected to meet all of their demands.
But Haslam Stroud says other public health units are in the same position and they have not made the same drastic cuts.
She says the Grey Bruce Health Unit needs to look at how its investing its money.
The ONA and OPSEU are holding a community forum and information meeting at the Days Inn in Owen Sound at 7 PM tonight.
Residents are invited to attend.