Home / Health / Nurses Vote on 'Grey List' at Thompson General
Nurses Vote on 'Grey List' at Thompson General
20 Nov
Summary
- Nurses at Thompson General are voting on a 'grey list' designation.
- Concerns include staff vacancies, violence, and poor working conditions.
- A patient stabbing was the tipping point for the nurses' vote.
Nurses at Thompson General Hospital are casting ballots on whether to designate the facility as 'grey listed.' This action stems from significant concerns over staff vacancies, rising violence, and a perceived lack of action from hospital administration to improve working conditions. The Manitoba Nurses Union is leading the vote, which could discourage other nurses from seeking employment there.
The decision follows a series of alarming incidents, including the stabbing of a patient in late September, which served as a catalyst for the union's action. Nurses report feeling exhausted and worried about patient care safety due to over 30 percent vacancy in the obstetrics unit and shortages in the emergency department. They are demanding their employer address these critical safety issues.
While the hospital and provincial health officials acknowledge the challenges and are implementing new security measures, including hiring institutional safety officers, nurses express disappointment with delays. The union hopes the grey list vote will force immediate improvements, preventing further decline in patient care and a worsening staffing crisis.
