OPSEU  HEALTH  COUNCIL
dialogue
A bi-weekly update on issues affecting health care in Ontario
 

August 21, 2008 Dialogue 50 - Special 4 page issue: Niagara Health System unveils plan to rationalize core hospital services; Muskoka Algonquin pulls plug on community lab testing; Rouge Valley layoffs backfire; Hamilton St. Joseph's begins new round of cuts. more...

July 18, 2008: Dialogue 49: Ombuds to investigate enforcement of long term care standards; Kincardine loses publicly-funded outpatient physio services; Central East LHIN fails to get quick dismissal of OPSEU complaint. more...

July 11, 2008: Dialogue 48: Are Ontario's hospital occupancy rates a ticking time bomb? Patients have 50 per cent greater chance of catching a superbug at hospitals with an occupancy rate greater than 90 per cent.  more...

June 27, 2008: Dialogue 47: David Caplan appointed new health minister -- will he be the fall guy for George Smitherman?more...

May 30, 2008: Dialogue 46 - Public lab testing saves money -- report urges province to send community testing to the private sector despite strong evidence to the contrary; Layoffs part of reorganization at Canadian Blood Services; Caplan writes inflammatory op/ed to salvage credibility more...

May 8, 2008: Dialogue 45: OPSEU takes Central East LHIN to court over mental health bed cuts in Ajax; Ambulance members to make case at May 23 OMERS meeting; Grey Bruce Health Unit office and clerical members on strike; more...

March 28, 2008 Dialogue 44 Budget won’t stop wave of job cuts A six per cent increase in provincial funding may not be enough to stem the tidal wave of job cuts. more...

March 12, 2008: Dialogue 43: Ministry appoints committee to implement interprofessional care; paramedics fight for pension equity with police and firefighters; Home care nurses leave despite freeze on contracts; Revised workshops help members understand hospital budgets more...

February 28, 2008 : Dialogue 42: Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre under media scrutiny; Fertility Clinic decision under judicial review; Service Excellent to include gag order?; Human Rights Commission and Ministry dodge diaper complaint. more...

February 14, 2008: Dialogue 41: Amended legislation covers wide range of change in health care according to Ontario Labour Relations Board decision; EORLA denies access to review of business plan, then has it posted on-line by Champlain LHIN more...

January 31, 2008: Dialogue 40: Government stops home care bidding process after 1500 attend Hamilton rally; MPP introduces bill to amend Occupational Health and Safety Act more...

December 13, 2007: Dialogue 39  Study links nursing home violence to working conditions; Hamilton VON disqualified from bidding on nursing contract, layoffs to come; Pocket Planners arriving next week.  more...

November 29, 2007: Dialogue 38: Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre rents space to clinical service U.S. FDA says has no clear evidence of working; SE LHIN turns down funding request from Kingston General Hospital; NUPGE meeting addresses strategies for diagnostic, clinical and rehab professionals. more...

November 15, 2007: Dialogue 37: Mental Health Symposium addresses housing and poverty issues; Unions rally at Humber River Regional Hospital; Kingston General Hospital fights for funding. more...

November 2, 2007: Dialogue 36 North East CCAC choses OPSEU; Province to consult on LTC staffing standards; Thomas speaks at Local 466 screening of Sicko; Paramedics stage info picket; OPSEU Mental Health Symposium more...

October 18: Dialogue 35: McGuinty adds ER to wait times strategy; public overwhelmingly against for-profit home care -- poll; locals place ad; OHC/OFL conference opportunities more...

October 4, 2007 Dialogue 34: Former editor of the New England Journal of Medicine says there is no evidence that for-profit health care works.  more...

September 20, 2007  Dialogue 33 Special Edition Liberal, PC, NDP and Green Party platforms on health care (so far); Upcoming events  more...

September 7, 2007  Dialogue 32 Promise of staffing standards in long term care muddied by review; Protecting members in the event of a LHIN integration; 2nd lawsuit filed. more...

August 23, 2007 Dialogue 31: UK docs warn Canadian counterparts about market-based health reforms; Ontario agrees to make safe needles mandatory -- Smitherman accepts precautionary principle. more...

August 9, 2007 Dialogue 30: Champlain CCAC chooses OPSEU; EORLA chooses steering committee; government increases food allowance for long term care, but no staffing standards yet; 70 attend Hamilton rally more...

July 26, 2007  Dialogue 29:  Hospital planning cycle begins with release of 2008/10 guide -- mental health programs continue to be at risk  July 5, 2007  Dialogue 28: Local 479 report highlights shortcomings of Ontario's first P3 hospital; Ontario Ombudsman wants mandate expanded to hospitals and long term care homes.

June 21, 2007  Dialogue 27 :  Closure of lab sites skips LHIN process; billboard greets Muskoka administrators; L479 presents P3 report on Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre; 85 per cent agree with precautionary principle (poll)... more  

June 7, 2007  Dialogue 26: Hospitals escalate divestment of work to for-profit labs; Whitby Mental Health Centre closes board meetings despite OHA policy.

May 24, 2007 Dialogue 25: Transition to community-based mental health a failure -- forums; Campaign takes aim at Muskoka Algonquin Healthcare; CanWest goes to court to change the rules around drug advertising; Ontario "Chaoulli" challenge more politics than law

May 10, 2007: Dialogue Issue 24 - Special Edition: Historic gathering in Regina calls for implementation of the second phase of Medicare. 

April 26, 2007: Issue 23: Provincial nursing graduate guarantee must respect collective agreements; HCDC raffle -- did you win?; Needlestick rally May 1st

April 12, 2007: Issue 22: Bill 171 hearings to take place April 23-24; May Day rally: Safe needles save lives; Mental health programs expendable?

March 29, 2007: Issue 21: Health care and the Ontario budget, Muskoka Algonquin suspends activists; Durham rallies to fight cuts to Lakeridge Health

March 15, 2007 Issue 20: LHINs runs from controversy as transition date approaches

March 1, 2007 Issue 19 -- Fightback on regional lab services continues; workers asked to take off shirts; Poll says 84 per cent of Ontarians don't feel involved with their LHIN

February 15, 2007   Issue 18 - One in four long term care residents at serious nutrition risk. Toronto Central LHIN looks to meet with labour. Calendar Woes.

February 1, 2007  Issue 17 - Consolidation of lab services may lead to longer wait times. Long term care workers win battle for standards. Demonstrate at health ministers' meeting Feb 9.

January 18, 2007 Issue 16 - Bill 140: OPSEU calls for minimum staffing levels in long term care homes; The challenge ahead with McGuinty's health care agenda.

January 4, 2007 Issue 15 - Canadian Medicare system discredited to thwart U.S. health reforms? Health care spending and GDP. Hearings begin on new long term care act.

December 14, 2006 Issue 14 Auditor raises concerns about CT radiation exposure; Under pressure from the community, Stevenson Memorial Hospital re-examines plan to close birthing unit.

December 1, 2006  Issue 13 Federal finance minister insists provinces explore privatization option for new infrastructure; 2007 12-month health care planner coming soon; Service cut in Alliston calls into question LHIN plan.

November 16, 2006 Issue 12 - No consensus reached on flu transmission -- Ministry likely to follow U.S. Centres for Disease Control in requiring N95 respirators. New Ottawa hospital costs $88 million more. Ontarians going without needed care -- poll.

November 2, 2006 Issue 11 -  First privately-financed hospital opens

October 19, 2006 Issue 10 -  Health care pledge targets municipal candidates, long-term care revolution? LHINs can’t find staff.

October 5, 2006  Issue 9 -  New pandemic plan weak on worker protection, sharps legislation goes to second reading, protecting workers rights around LHIN integrations

September 21, 2006 Issue 8 - Wait times strategy will be derailed by home-care cuts

September 7, 2006 Issue 7 - Company sends queue jumpers to India, Central LHIN to release draft plan, OPSEU Health Care Divisional Council tour, Ottawa lab workers to move to new EORLA model

August 24, 2006  Issue  6 -  SE LHIN posts first integrated health plan, Public Health review, CCACs delve into the cheese 

August 10, 2006 Issue 5  Powerful working group recommends hospitals charge patients for administering "non-funded" cancer drugs

July 27, 2006 Issue 4 LHIN dismisses outspoken board member, urge docs to support Medicare on August 22

July 13, 2006 Issue 3 Grad Nurse job promises.

June 29, 2006 Issue 2  CCAC mergers underway

June 15, 2006 Issue 1 Update on LHINs  .pdf