Sterilization and cleanliness problems widespread in Alberta hospitals, AUPE president says
EDMONTON – Sterilization and cleanliness problems like those at a controversial Vegreville hospital and other facilities in the East Central Health Region are widespread throughout Alberta’s health care facilities, says the president of the union that represents surgical processors.
“The root of this problem is the ‘culture of cutbacks’ that infected the government of Alberta and all health regions in the mid-1990s, and which has been with us ever since,” said Doug Knight, president of the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees.
“The situation in Vegreville and at the other hospital sites is a symptom of a much bigger problem,” Knight stated. “It should be a warning to health care administrators and government officials throughout the province that a decisive, positive response is needed now to make Alberta hospitals safe for everyone.”
As the largest health care union in Alberta, with more than 31,000 members in the sector, AUPE receives reports daily from members in all health regions who are disturbed by potential health risks caused by penny-pinching and short staffing in health care sites, Knight noted.
“Surgical tools are one serious problem area, but not the only one, according to our members,” he said. “Just look around when you visit a hospital in your community, and you will see in many instances that basic cleanliness is not up to the standard that was expected before this era of penny pinching began.”
Knight said problems common throughout Alberta include:
- Numerous unfilled vacancies in surgical processing and cleaning departments.
- Lack of training or inadequate training in surgical processing for replacement workers brought in from other departments to fill the gaps.
- Excessive overtime and extra shifts for surgical processors, leading to fatigue, stress and health problems.
- Unprocessed surgical equipment left in hospital hallways awaiting cleaning.
- Over-all cleanliness concerns in hospital wards and hallways.
AUPE proposes the following solutions, Knight said:
- Immediate follow-through on Health and Wellness Minister Dave Hancock’s commitment to create provincial cleanliness standards, and monitoring and enforcement mechanisms.
- Immediate implementation of employer-paid surgical processing training programs for staff within Alberta health regions.
- Government funding for training programs in Alberta post-secondary institutions.
- Adequate funding for all health regions, and an end to the culture of penny pinching.
- Immediately returning privatized cleaning and laundry services to the direct control of Alberta health regions.
“Most surgical processors in Alberta are members of AUPE, and we know they are overworked, stressed out and short staffed,” Knight said. “Workers like these are the people who make Alberta’s health care system work.”
“The solution ultimately lies in adequate funding for routine maintenance and cleanliness in the health-care system, which Alberta can well afford and which would benefit all Albertans,” he said. “Immediate fixes are needed in the areas of inspections and training.”
“Our members work in health care facilities, but we and our families are also users of the health care system,” he said. “Our commitment is to ensure safety and good health for everyone. The government and the health regions now need to provide more than lip service and make a sincere commitment to the same goal.”
For more information, contact:
Doug Knight, President, AUPE, 780-930-3301 or 780-265-6655 (cellular phone)
David Climenhaga, Communications Director, AUPE, 780-930-3311 or 780-717-2943 (cellular phone)