TDMH PSW argues against layoffs

Jeff Helsdon, Editor

A Tillsonburg hospital Personal Service Worker (PSW) is speaking out against a layoff that she will be part of.

A Tillsonburg District Memorial Hospital news release dated April 13 announced the layoff of PSWs in the hospital as part of a change in the model of care. The PSWs are to be replaced by a combination of RNs and RPNs.

According to McMaster, there are 26 PSWs in the hospital. Their duties are to assist nurses “with absolutely anything they need.” This includes wound care, feeding patients, toileting patients, helping with transfers, helping with physio and getting patients moving on the weekends.

McMaster said the PSWs will be done on Sept. 24.

“All of us will be laid off but the long-term care ward is a different part of funding, and they are extending that until 2027,” she said. “Once the program is done, I think it’s March 2027, they will be done as well.”

McMaster maintains nurses don’t have time to take over PSW’s duties.

“They’re not replacing us one to one,” McMaster said. “They’re going to give one per floor (RN or RPN), the other floor maybe three,” she said. “It’s going to be chaotic and a lot of problems. There will be a lot of falls, a lot of bed sores, a lot of accidents because there’s no else on the floor.”

She estimates the patient to caregiver ratio will be 1:6 or 1:7, which is a downward move from the current 1:5 ratio. The exception is Intensive Care where one nurse will replace one PSW and one ward clerk.

“According to them it’s got nothing to do with budgeting. It’s because the patients’ acuity and care is more,” McMaster said.

She has called Unifor to see if the union can assist. McMaster inferred the nurses weren’t happy with the pending change either.

The layoff made the news and was brought up in the Ontario Legislature by London MPP Teresa Armstrong, who asked Health Minister Sylvia Jones why the government was cutting health care jobs. Jones answered that the government has increased health care funding and increased nurse numbers.

Oxford MPP Ernie Hardeman said, “I understand that news of staffing changes, particularly involving personal support workers, can be concerning for patients and families. The hospital has indicated that patient needs are becoming more complex, and these adjustments are being made to ensure that care, services, and bed capacity continue to be maintained.”

He said the Doug Ford government has increased funding by more than 50 per cent since taking office, with more than $100 billion being spent on Ontario’s health care this year alone.

“While staffing decisions are made at the hospital level, we will continue to support investments that help ensure patients receive high-quality care,” he added.

Officials at TDMH had no further comment when asked.