/R E P E A T -- MEDIA ADVISORY - Hamilton Front-Line Nurses Bringing Petition to Queen's Park Tomorrow/

Hamilton RNs protesting RN cuts at St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton

TORONTO, May 10, 2016 /CNW/ - Registered nurses from Hamilton, members of the Ontario Nurses' Association (ONA), will be at Queen's Park on Wednesday as a petition protesting registered nurse job cuts at St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton is read.

The RNs, Ontario Nurses' Association (ONA), are outraged at the announcement of RN cuts to balance the budget.

"This is Nursing Week in Ontario," notes ONA President Linda Haslam-Stroud, RN. "As RNs, we are obliged to fulfil our regulatory requirement to advocate for our patients. As a St. Joseph's Healthcare RN myself, I know we are fulfilling our role as patient advocates by delivering the message that RN cuts are not supported by the people of Hamilton. RN cuts hurt patients, simple as that."

Research has shown that for every extra patient added to an average RN's workload, patients suffer a seven-per-cent increased risk of complications and even death. Provincial hospitals have cut 1,440 RNs since the beginning of 2015 alone, or the equivalent of almost 90 RNs per month.

The Hamilton RNs will arrive at Queen's Park at 10 am and attend Question Period. They will also be in the visitor's gallery to hear the petition read.

"Nurses know that RN cuts hurt patients," says Haslam-Stroud. "The public understands this, and supports our dedicated front-line RNs who are being gutted from hospitals as the bottom line takes precedence over safe, quality patient care."

ONA is the union representing 60,000 registered nurses and allied health professionals, as well as more than 14,000 nursing student affiliates, providing care in hospitals, long-term care facilities, public health, the community, clinics and industry.

Who:	St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton Registered Nurses
What:	Visit to Queen's Park to hear the reading of a petition against RN cuts
When:	Wednesday, May 11 from 10 am to 3 pm
Where:	Queen's Park Legislative Building, Toronto

Visit us at: www.ona.org; Facebook.com/OntarioNurses; Twitter.com/OntarioNurses

SOURCE Ontario Nurses' Association

Ontario Nurses' Association: Sheree Bond, [phone], ext. 2430; cell: [phone]; [email protected]; Melanie Levenson, [phone], ext. 2369; [email protected]