HHS STAFF SHORTAGES

Hamilton Health Sciences currently has more than 700 job openings for health-care providers. However, they did not appear concerned when hundreds of their workers quit, retired or were terminated over their vaccine mandate. Did HHS ever consider the risks versus benefits of firing qualified workers knowing the issues this may cause?

Staffing shortages mean less time to monitor patients whose medical status may change in an instant. It means staff may be redeployed to other units without possessing the specialized skills or training required to safely care for these patients. It means staff who are sick feel pressured to return to work as soon as possible as they do not want to further burden their colleagues.

One solution would be to allow unvaccinated workers, who are willing to undergo regular testing to return to work. If hospitals in Ottawa and Quebec are allowing COVID positive staff to work in order to address shortages, than surely allowing staff who are testing negative can?

SHEILA BOATMAN,

HAMILTON