Inconsistent COVID-19 protocols putting patients, nurses at risk: union

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) — Inconsistent COVID-19 protocols at hospitals across the province are putting patients and staff at risk, according to the BC Nurses’ Union.

Christine Sorensen, president of the union, said visitors are no longer being screened before entering some acute-care facilities.

In addition to reports of such instances at North Vancouver’s Lions Gate and Vancouver General hospitals, she’s also had complaints from other health regions.

“It’s an inconsistent application in regards to asking people to wear masks, use hand sanitizer and we are seeing a growing number of cases in the community,” Sorensen added.

“Nurses are concerned. Visitors into our health care facilities may be bringing COVID into the hospital.”

She said nurses are having to question visitors as to why they are there.

“And that’s putting nurses in a very difficult situation, who are only trying to protect themselves and their patients.”

Staff with Vancouver Coastal Health confirmed essential visits are limited to one person per patient once a day, but screeners are no longer permanently in place at every entrance.

“The health and safety of our staff, clients, patients and residents remains the highest priority for Vancouver Coastal Health and we will continue to provide enhanced infection control measures to protect them,” the health authority says in an email.

“All VCH facilities remain restricted to essential visits based on direction from the Ministry of Health, the Provincial Health Officer and VCH’s Chief Medical Health Officer. VCH’s current visitation policy was recently updated to provide clarity on what constitutes an essential visit,” it adds.

“These guidelines are in place across VCH. However, our patient populations and their needs can differ significantly. Therefore, care teams may interpret the visitation guidelines based on the best interest of the patient/client/resident and ability to accommodate visitation.”

READ ALSO: Nurses support adding COVID-19 to occupational diseases list at WorkSafe BC

The Ministry of Health requires that all staff, medical staff and contracted staff who have direct contact with patients, clients and residents wear surgical or procedural masks, eye protection and gloves when providing direct care to patients, clients and residents across Vancouver Coastal Health.

“This guidance does not apply to staff who are not providing direct care to patients, clients and residents.”

Vancouver Coastal also launched a new webpage Thursday, listing recent COVID-19 exposures.

Meanwhile, the union is lobbying WorkSafeBC to better protect workers who’ve contracted the coronavirus on the job.

Last week, updates to the Workers Compensation Act were introduced to raise the maximum annual salary amount on benefits, and to allow for victim impact statements in workplace trials.

The changes include fast-tracking the delivery of benefits for occupational diseases caused by viral pathogens.

The board of directors at WorkSafe is considering adding COVID-19 to the list of occupational diseases and will vote on that later in the month.

WorkSafe BC numbers show 144 registered, licenced practical and nursing coordinators have filed claims for contracting COVID in the workplace. The next hardest-hit occupations are care aides and orderlies, with 91 claims filed.

Designating COVID-19 as an occupational disease would eliminate the need for the employee to prove conclusively that the illness was acquired at work.

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