Latest news with #ErinAriss
CTV News
10-07-2025
- Health
- CTV News
Pembroke, Ont. nurse attacked by patient, raising safety concerns in ER
An emergency department nurse at the Pembroke Regional Hospital was attacked by a patient, CTV News has learned, raising safety concerns at the hospital. The nurse was violently attacked on the evening of June 20. 'One of our members and a registered nurse at Pembroke, was assaulted at the nurse's station and lost consciousness,' says Erin Ariss, the provincial president with the Ontario Nurses' Association. The organization says they have filed a complaint with the Ministry of Labour. 'This nurse has pressed charges with the support of the hospital, with respect to this assault, and I fully support that as well.' In a statement to CTV News Ottawa, the Pembroke Regional Hospital said, 'We want to express how sorry we are that this event took place. From the outset, our thoughts were with our injured staff member as well as all staff and physicians who were both affected and impacted by this event… For everyone involved, our hospital has made available a variety of additional support mechanisms.' A source employed at the hospital says the attack is raising safety concerns for staff at the hospital. The source says they have sat in meetings with hospital management where multiple safety concerns have been raised, including the need for locks on the door of the mental health room in the emergency department, key fob access to the emergency department, and 24/7 on-site security. In a separate incident in May, the source says a patient under the influence and concealing a knife was placed in the mental health room and proceeded to stab a stretcher repeatedly. Police had to be called to deal with the incident. 'Nurses and health care professionals are assaulted with weapons, fists, words, spat on, kicked, every single day in every emergency department in this province,' says Ariss. Further in its statement, the hospital said, 'A great deal of work has been done to improve safety and security throughout our facility and specifically, in our Emergency Department. This particular incident has been reviewed and action plans have been developed for implementation.' Ariss says more funding is needed at hospitals to improve security measures. 'They should have security 24/7 in the hospital, not just the emergency department. There should be controlled access, so nurses aren't assaulted.'
Yahoo
02-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
OCEU/CUPE 1750 thanks Ontario Nurses' Association (ONA) for standing in solidarity
TORONTO, June 27, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Ontario Compensation Employees Union (OCEU/CUPE 1750) is expressing gratitude to the Ontario Nurses' Association (ONA) for their strong public show of solidarity and support for more than 3,600 OCEU members currently on strike. In a letter sent to WSIB President and CEO Jeffery Lang on June 23, ONA called on WSIB leadership to end the ongoing strike by negotiating a fair agreement that addresses workload, mental health, job security and wage improvements. "We are incredibly grateful to the Ontario Nurses' Association and its president, Erin Ariss, for standing with us and recognizing the vital work our members do to support injured workers — including nurses," said Harry Goslin, president of OCEU/CUPE 1750. "This letter reflects the growing support from labour and frontline organizations who know that our fight is about fairness, respect and the future of Ontario's compensation system." ONA's letter highlights the impact of unsustainable workloads, the toll on mental health, and the lack of investment in staff — while noting that the employer has spent more than $14.5 million on external consultants rather than its own workforce. "Their words send a powerful message: frontline workers deserve better," Goslin said. "We are proud to have ONA by our side as we continue pushing for a fair deal that reflects the value and professionalism of OCEU members." OCEU is calling on WSIB's CEO and board of directors to break the silence, stop the delays and deliver a respectful settlement that reflects the essential work of Ontario's compensation workers before Canada day. cj/cope491 View source version on Contacts For more information, please contact: Bill ChalupiakCUPE Communications Representativewchalupiak@ 416-707-1401 Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
National Post
27-06-2025
- Health
- National Post
OCEU/CUPE 1750 thanks Ontario Nurses' Association (ONA) for standing in solidarity
Article content TORONTO — The Ontario Compensation Employees Union (OCEU/CUPE 1750) is expressing gratitude to the Ontario Nurses' Association (ONA) for their strong public show of solidarity and support for more than 3,600 OCEU members currently on strike. Article content In a letter sent to WSIB President and CEO Jeffery Lang on June 23, ONA called on WSIB leadership to end the ongoing strike by negotiating a fair agreement that addresses workload, mental health, job security and wage improvements. Article content Article content 'We are incredibly grateful to the Ontario Nurses' Association and its president, Erin Ariss, for standing with us and recognizing the vital work our members do to support injured workers — including nurses,' said Harry Goslin, president of OCEU/CUPE 1750. 'This letter reflects the growing support from labour and frontline organizations who know that our fight is about fairness, respect and the future of Ontario's compensation system.' Article content ONA's letter highlights the impact of unsustainable workloads, the toll on mental health, and the lack of investment in staff — while noting that the employer has spent more than $14.5 million on external consultants rather than its own workforce. Article content 'Their words send a powerful message: frontline workers deserve better,' Goslin said. 'We are proud to have ONA by our side as we continue pushing for a fair deal that reflects the value and professionalism of OCEU members.' Article content Article content Article content Article content Article content Contacts Article content For more information, please contact: Article content Article content Bill Chalupiak Article content Article content Article content
Cision Canada
11-06-2025
- Health
- Cision Canada
Cutting more than 40 front-line registered nurses at University Health Network will harm patient care, say nurses
TORONTO, June 11, 2025 /CNW/ - The Ontario Nurses' Association (ONA) is sounding the alarm as the University Health Network (UHN) cuts more than 40 registered nurses (RN) from front-line patient care, amidst an ongoing severe nursing shortage. In what UHN calls "system efficiency," RN cuts are happening on several units across Toronto General Hospital and Toronto Western Hospital including its hemodialysis unit and coronary intensive care unit. UHN is rejigging its general internal medicine unit to make a 28-bed alternate level of care (ALC) unit, with only one RN onsite to support registered practical nurses and personal support workers. "These cuts will be catastrophic for patients. At a time when we desperately need more registered nurses, not fewer, UHN has made the decision to cut the expert care provided by front-line RNs," says Erin Ariss, RN, and ONA Provincial President. "While UHN claims this is to improve the model of care, I think we all know that this is really about dollars and cents. There is no scenario where fewer RNs means better or more timely care for patients." Ontario has the lowest number of RNs per capita in the country, requiring more than 25,000 RNs just to reach the national average. Adds Ariss: "We can expect more RNs to leave due to understaffing, impossible workloads and mental distress because they can't provide the care that they know patients need and deserve." "The Ford government must step up and fully fund our public health-care system so such foolish RN cuts can be avoided. Employers must stop trying to balance the books at the expense of the expert, front-line care Ontarians need." ONA is the union representing more than 68,000 registered nurses and health-care professionals, as well as 18,000 nursing student affiliates, providing care in hospitals, long-term care facilities, public health, the community, clinics and industry.
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Cutting more than 40 front-line registered nurses at University Health Network will harm patient care, say nurses
TORONTO, June 11, 2025 /CNW/ - The Ontario Nurses' Association (ONA) is sounding the alarm as the University Health Network (UHN) cuts more than 40 registered nurses (RN) from front-line patient care, amidst an ongoing severe nursing shortage. In what UHN calls "system efficiency," RN cuts are happening on several units across Toronto General Hospital and Toronto Western Hospital including its hemodialysis unit and coronary intensive care unit. UHN is rejigging its general internal medicine unit to make a 28-bed alternate level of care (ALC) unit, with only one RN onsite to support registered practical nurses and personal support workers. "These cuts will be catastrophic for patients. At a time when we desperately need more registered nurses, not fewer, UHN has made the decision to cut the expert care provided by front-line RNs," says Erin Ariss, RN, and ONA Provincial President. "While UHN claims this is to improve the model of care, I think we all know that this is really about dollars and cents. There is no scenario where fewer RNs means better or more timely care for patients." Ontario has the lowest number of RNs per capita in the country, requiring more than 25,000 RNs just to reach the national average. Adds Ariss: "We can expect more RNs to leave due to understaffing, impossible workloads and mental distress because they can't provide the care that they know patients need and deserve." "The Ford government must step up and fully fund our public health-care system so such foolish RN cuts can be avoided. Employers must stop trying to balance the books at the expense of the expert, front-line care Ontarians need." ONA is the union representing more than 68,000 registered nurses and health-care professionals, as well as 18,000 nursing student affiliates, providing care in hospitals, long-term care facilities, public health, the community, clinics and industry. SOURCE Ontario Nurses' Association View original content to download multimedia: Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
