ONA outraged as HNHU proceeds with nurse cuts during pandemic

By Haldimand Press Staff

HALDIMAND—The Ontario Nurses’ Association (ONA) is “beyond outraged” at the decision of Haldimand Norfolk Health Unit to offer – and accept – early retirement packages to Public Health Nurses, “especially at a time when the province is suffering through a COVID-19 pandemic”.

“There are no words to express how utterly foolish this is,” said ONA President Vicki McKenna, RN. “This Board of Health seems to be unaware of how serious this pandemic is and will become. I urge them to shift their focus away from the budget and direct it to ensuring they have adequate staff to help bring this pandemic under control.”

McKenna noted that HNHU’s region includes Anson Place, the long-term care facility and retirement home with a serious COVID-19 outbreak that has killed over a dozen residents and infected many of its staff.