Answer:
Staffing shortages, violence in the workplace, burnout and mental health decline are impacting the wellbeing of health professionals and the quality of care they can offer their patients. In a survey conducted for the B.C. Hospital Employees Union, 30% of healthcare workers reported that they want to leave their jobs in the next two years. Additionally, healthcare workers are barred from speaking out about working conditions. BC’s whistleblower protection does not cover healthcare workers.
The BC NDP must protect whistleblowers and address waning morale in the healthcare sector. Healthcare professionals should not fear repercussions for speaking up when their work conditions are unsafe or patients are put at risk. Nor should they feel abandoned by their government and hopeless at work.