LINK: BILL 192, Patient-to-Nurse Ratios for Hospitals Act, 2024

CALL TO ACTION:

Please sign this petition and include your postal code to show your support for safe staffing ratios! Forward this petition to anyone and everyone interested in reforming our current healthcare system.

The results will be forwarded to all Ontario MPPs and Sylvia Jones prior to: the Second Reading in the Legislative Assembly in June, the Standing Committee (TBA), and Third Reading (TBA). Including your postal code ensures that each MPP knows the priorities of their constituents during the legislative process, and are more likely to vote in support of Bill 192.

BACKGROUND:

The COVID-19 pandemic has underscored the inequities and chronic underfunding in our public healthcare system. Our government has neglected to implement the systemic changes necessary to ensure safe staffing ratios for healthcare workers, severely affecting patient care and public safety. Lasater et al. (2021) states the odds of 30-day mortality for each patient increased by 16% for each additional patient in the average nurse’s workload.  McHugh et al (2021) further reinforces decreased mortality rates when implementing safe nurse-patient ratios in addition to reducing patient readmission, shorter length of stay; thereby reducing public costs. The reduced costs can be reallocated back into the public sector and address other chronically underfunded issues such as but not limited to healthcare wages, recruitment and retention strategies, equipment, etc.   

BILL 192, the "Patient-to-Nurse Ratios for Hospital Act, 2024,"  introduced by France Gélinas, seeks to establish legislated minimum nurse-to-patient ratios in Ontario hospitals. This bill offers hope to nurses that their working conditions will improve and that they will no longer face perpetual understaffing. It also ensures public safety in hospital care by making employers accountable for patient care and worker safety.

BILL HIGHLIGHTS:

9.1  (1)  The Ministry of Health shall ensure that the ratio of patients to nurses does not exceed the following:

   1.  A patient-to-nurse ratio of 1-to-1 for critical care patients on ventilators.

   2.  A patient-to-nurse ratio of 2-to-1 for,

          i.  critical care patients not on ventilators, and

         ii.  highly dependent patients who need mental health care.

   3.  A patient-to-nurse ratio of 3-to-1 for specialized care.

   4.  A patient-to-nurse ratio of 4-to-1 for inpatient and palliative care.

   5.  A patient-to-nurse ratio of 5-to-1 for rehabilitative care other than on night shifts.

   6.  A patient-to-nurse ratio of 7-to-1 for rehabilitative care on night shifts

By supporting BILL 192, we can create a safer environment for both patients and nurses, guaranteeing quality care for all Ontarians.