Nurses need more support

RE: ‘Danger on the job’ (July 28)

The story describing dangers for staff at the St. Joseph’s Hospital Mental Health facility is distressing. What is equally distressing is that most staff attacked is nurses. Due to Bill 163, supporting Ontario’s first responders, those nurses are not entitled to benefits under the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act.

This legislation, which provides resources for treating post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) includes fire fighters, fire investigators, police officers, paramedics, emergency medical attendants, and workers in correctional institutions or secure custody. But not nurses.

Studies report that incidents of violence against Canadian nurses are well above the number reported by police officers and firefighters combined, and that most nurses are women.

Nurses working in mental health facilities, and across our health care system, face danger, and if attacked, are at a risk of developing PTSD. Ask yourself, would you be willing to do their job?

In a just society, we would support people who are traumatized because of an assault on the job. Excluding nurses from such benefits is clearly gender biased.

Premier Kathleen Wynne proclaims to tackle gender bias. Let’s see the provincial government put their money where their mouth is and include nurses in supporting Ontario’s first responders. Jan Park Dorsay, RN (EC), Hamilton