ONA Lifts Censure against University Health Network
28 Sept 07 -- The Ontario Nurses’ Association (ONA) Board of Directors has voted to lift the censure against University Health Network (UHN) in Toronto.“ONA is looking forward to continued improvement for our members as we lift the censure against University Health Network,” says President Linda Haslam-Stroud, RN. “Local 97 nurses and medical radiation therapists deserve to care for their patients in an environment that is safe, free of harassment and discrimination, and with an employer that supports them with fair labour practices. While not perfect, UHN – consisting of Toronto General Hospital, Toronto Western Hospital and Princess Margaret Hospital – has worked hard to improve its practices and the working environment for its nurses and medical radiation therapists.”
First issued in 1999 at the request of ONA Local 97 nurses, the censure was reissued several times in ensuing years.
Censuring is ONA’s public sanction against a health agency due to the negative impact on staff of poor labour relations and administrative practices which, in turn, impact on patient care. It is a nation-wide public reproach of an employer ONA believes has dealt unfairly or inappropriately with employees, and has failed to redress concerns about patient safety and quality care. When an agency is censured, information is shared across Canada to the public, other nurses’ unions, and nursing schools to alert prospective nurses and allied health professionals about the employer’s activities before they seek employment with the facility.
With the lifting of the censure against UHN, only two Ontario hospitals remain under censure – Bluewater Health in Sarnia and the Niagara Health System.