Resignations are piling up in the health network in Nunavik and the nurses’ union is once again sounding the alarm so that we can help the exhausted and destitute staff. We denounce a toxic work climate and conditions that endanger the Inuit population.
In the past few weeks alone, at least seven nurses have left their jobs. To add to the lack of personnel, 45% of part-time nurses would have refused to offer availability for the months of April, May and June because of the current work climate described as unbearable.
Consequently, there are only 11 nurses practicing an expanded role – that is, who can perform certain medical acts without the presence of a doctor – left to serve seven villages. The communities of Akulivik, Umiujaq and Ivujivik have no permanent nurses on site, while the community of Puvirnituq has only one nurse.
To add to the lack of personnel, the labor recruitment platform Perspective Nunavik currently displays 96 positions available in the field of health and social services.
“We cannot have clinics running with less than half their staff, or with broken services, and say that the communities are receiving care. It’s wrong ! summed up the president of the Northern Union of Hudson’s Bay Nurses (SNIIBH), Cyril Gabreau, in an interview with The Canadian Press.
In a petition addressed to the Executive Director of the Inuulitsivik Health Center (CSI), Sarah Beaulne, as well as to the Minister of Health, Christian Dubé, the union denounces the unsustainable conditions and a toxic work climate which reign in the network of health in Nunavik.
In Minister Dubé’s office, they say they have heard “the cry from the heart” and are very sensitive to the situation. A meeting was recently held with the union and the Minister responsible for First Nations and Inuit Relations, Ian Lafrenière. Quebec says it wants to put in place conditions adapted to the reality of the North, but we maintain that this must go through negotiation.
As of Tuesday evening, the petition had 210 signatories, including several people who identify as nurses or healthcare workers saying they stand in solidarity with Hudson’s Bay staff. In the wording of the petition, we can read that the union denounces “for a second time, the numerous irregularities that endanger the integrity of nursing practice” by the management of the Inuulitsivik Health Center (CSI).
Recall that last month, nurses made a first splash by coordinating a “sit-in” in dispensaries all along the Hudson Bay coast. In reaction, rather than setting in motion an action plan to improve the lot of the staff, the health center turned to the Administrative Labor Tribunal to put an end to the illegal strike and force them back to work.
“We urge the employer to put an end to all harmful management irritants in order to allow the implementation of structuring measures of attraction and especially retention. […] It is clear that the management of the CSI continues to fail in several of its employer obligations towards its staff,” writes the union in its petition which aims to collect 250 supporters.
“The nurses want to provide care to the Inuit communities, but they are not able to do so and that undermines the reason for which they became healthcare professionals. This is why they became nurses at the base, ”commented Cyril Gabreau who is himself a clinical nurse.
“At some point, people say ‘we can’t go on anymore,'” he adds.
Four requests
Four demands are listed by the SNIIBH, which calls for the immediate intervention of Minister Dubé. We want him to give the “formal order” to the negotiation committee to agree on new regional disparities for Nunavik healthcare personnel. We also want the minister to force the CSI to negotiate the organization of working hours.
“When you’re supposed to have six or seven nurses in Inukjuak and there are three or even two of them, you can’t say that they’re providing adequate care. It means that they are always on duty, insists Cyril Gabreau. They are 24, 36 hours online. At some point you can no longer give the same care. »
These healthcare professionals must regularly take care of multiple trauma accident victims, resuscitate patients or treat stab wounds or firearm injuries without the presence of a doctor.
“Our members hold the villages by giving the care they can, but they are no longer capable”, continues the president of the union.
The third demand aims to put an end to the inequalities in working conditions that would persist between the personnel of the Hudson Bay sector and the workers of the Ungava Bay and James Bay sectors. Finally, the last request relates to the dismissal of the assistant director general and former director general by interim.
The Canadian Press attempted to obtain comments from CSI’s Executive Director, Sarah Beaulne, but she was not available for an interview. A senior advisor explained by email that Ms. Beaulne was held back by several meetings in connection with the problems reported. She also had to meet the teams in the different villages.
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