By Haldimand Press Staff
HALDIMAND—The Board of Health, which is operated by Norfolk County on behalf of both Norfolk and Haldimand, has approved up to 17.2 temporary full-time equivalent (FTE) employees for a team specific to COVID-19.
This decision follows the previously reported request from Haldimand Norfolk Health Unit (HNHU) on October 6, 2020 for 30.2 FTEs to ensure the majority of mandated programs can be returned to more normal service levels while the new staff continue to handle the increased needs surrounding COVID-19.
The original report noted that HNHU staff were facing “adverse consequences” from the increased work levels, and that limiting mandated programs could impact the community’s overall wellbeing.
“It is imperative that the health unit continue to address drivers of community health and not just COVID-19,” said Marlene Miranda of Health and Social Services during the October 6 presentation, adding that their data shows 42 FTEs are needed to handle COVID-19 “even without any outbreaks” and therefore HNHU “will continue to redeploy some staff from mandatory programs … to make up the difference.”
Staff returned on October 27 with five potential staffing level scenarios, broken down into a list of services that are provided by HNHU and colour-coded (red, yellow, or green) based on how well that service could be provided within the given staffing level. Even under Scenario 1, with the greatest number of staff provided, a number of health promotion activities were marked red as they will not be implemented, such as for proper nutrition and development for infants and young children, certain mental health supports (i.e. post-partum depression prevention), and chronic disease and injury prevention, among others. A significant number of programs are yellow in this scenario as well, representing limited implementation, including for programs for oral health and nutrition in schools, prenatal classes and breastfeeding support, food inspections, and various meetings both internally and with stakeholders. The report said these reductions in services “may lead to increased morbidity and mortality related to chronic diseases.
While programs will still be limited, approximately two-thirds of the programs in Scenario 1 fall into the green category. In comparison, approximately two-thirds of programs are marked red under the current staffing level, and less than one quarter are green.
Norfolk councillors Amy Martin and Ryan Taylor attempted to pass a motion supporting Scenario 2 and were supported by Kim Huffman and Ian Rabbitts. However, Councillor Roger Geysens was absent and the vote did not pass as the remaining members voted against, including Mayor Kristal Chopp and councillors Tom Masschaele, Michael J. Columbus, and Chris Van Paassen.
The Board of Health approved Scenario 3 with Chopp and Masschaele changing their vote. This scenario falls in the middle of the spectrum with about one quarter of programs in green and over one third in red. Potential risks in Scenario 2 onwards include potential side effects from decreased dental care for school-aged children and decreased breastfeeding levels. Scenario 3 onwards has added risks for the following:
- Increased risk of food-borne disease as a result of non-inspection of low risk food premises.
- Increased risk of chronic diseases due to non-compliance to Healthy Menu Choices Act as a result of no inspection and enforcement.
- Increased risk of food-borne illnesses as a result of non-inspection of facilities planned for special events. Food vendors at special events cannot be approved, which will have an economic impact to the food vendor.
- Increased emergence of vaccine preventable disease due to non-compliance as student suspensions will be halted.
- Poor labour relations due to inability of management team to meet regularly with the unions to work through issues.
Scenario 3 has six fewer risks compared to Scenario 4 and nine fewer risks compared to the current staffing level.
The team has been approved to operate until June 2022. HNHU’s request for an electronic medical record program was approved as well; Miranda noted on October 6 that Haldimand Norfolk may be the last district operating on paper records still, and concerns were raised that staff would be unable to work remotely with paper records in the case of an outbreak inside HNHU.
