|
|
|
|
SARS has nurses worried, group says FROM
CANADIAN PRESS "We're seeing a shortage of supplies, especially the N-95 masks that nurses need to wear to protect themselves and the public," Barb Wahl, president of the Ontario Nurses' Association, said in a statement. "These masks are essential gear in an event like this to stop the further spread of infection, and yet our nurses say some facilities are rationing them." The majority of Ontario's severe acute respiratory syndrome cases have been front-line nurses and doctors. Many nurses, paramedics and doctors remain in their homes as part of a 10-day quarantine, waiting to see if they will develop the disease which has killed three people in Canada and more than 50 worldwide. More than 100 people across Canada are being watched as suspected or probable cases of SARS, a pneumonia-like illness that causes high fever, coughing and breathing troubles. Most are in the Toronto area, however isolated cases have been reported in British Columbia, New Brunswick, Ottawa and Winnipeg. Ontario health officials have ordered thousands of people to quarantine themselves if they have come into contact with anyone at risk or if they have visited Scarborough Grace Hospital in Toronto's east end or York Central Hospital in Richmond Hill, Ont., since March 16. On Saturday, Ontario health officials broadened their containment strategy, telling staff at hospitals in the greater Toronto area and nearby Simcoe County to don masks, gloves, gowns and protective eyewear. But Wahl said her association has heard several complaints from nurses that some facilities don't have masks for staff, that some nurses were made to wear masks beyond their effectiveness because of rationing or limited supplies, and that nurses were asked to care for both SARS patients in isolation wards and non-SARS patients in regular wards, which increases the chances of contamination. "It is essential that they are fully protected when caring for these patients," said Wahl, who represents about 46,000 registered nurses and health professionals in hospitals, long-term care facilities and community agencies. "This is unacceptable to our members and should be unacceptable to the public." A spokeswoman for York Central Hospital, one of two hospitals in isolation because of the outbreak, insisted everything was being done to protect staff. "We're all taking the necessary precautions and doing the best we can to reduce the risk," said Melina Cormier, noting workers at her facility have been wearing masks, gowns and gloves, with those in high-risk areas donning goggles. "We've been extremely diligent with the measures here." It's believed the respiratory syndrome originated in mainland China, which has reported some 800 cases and 34 deaths. But the Geneva-based World Health Organization says the disease is spreading via international travellers and has named Toronto as a hotspot. While cautioning that the risk to the general public remained relatively low, a WHO spokesman said Sunday the disease required strict precautions at Ontario hospitals because it threatens the health-care system. "It's a very important public health issue, because it threatens hospitals," Dick Thompson said from Geneva. "It's important because you do not want it out in the community. So you have to pay a lot of attention to it. You really have to focus on it." The SARS scare had many care facilities, not just hospitals, stepping up precautions. Some walk-in clinics require patients to answer a series of questions to identify whether they are suffering SARS symptoms before they can enter. At the Toronto clinic known as the Doctor's Office, doctors and receptionists wear masks full-time now. Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care, where there were no reported cases, banned most visitors and cancelled outpatient clinics, community services and day passes for residents. CP 1448ES 30-03-03
|
|
|
