When judged from within, it appears Canada’s health system is in worse shape than even the grim headlines maintain, and that there is no political party capable of coming to its rescue.
In a survey conducted by Angus Research for Blu Ivy Group, a major employer brand consultancy, 44% of Ontario’s healthcare workers agree their workplaces are “highly toxic,” and that 25% are planning to get out in less than a year and 28% within two years — with or without a Plan B.
Some 92% of those same workers call the nurse shortage the “most dangerous to patients.” This was followed by shortages of physicians (61%) and surgeons (21%).
As to which federal political party would best cure what ails the system, there was no consensus other than no party stood out, with 41% saying they “have no confidence any current party is equipped to address the healthcare situation in Canada.”
When pushed to choose one party, only 14% gave the present Liberal government of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau a hope in hell of curing the mess. The NDP, the last bastion for a wing and a prayer, was seen by 28% as the best hope at providing an answer to the dilemma.
The Conservatives were given a 15% shot.
“It’s obvious from talking to healthcare workers that this crisis is not about extra beds, or facilities,” said Stacy Parker, co-founder of Blu Ivy Group. “The healthcare industry can keep vitally needed workers from quitting with an emotionally compelling strategy that attracts, engages and builds pride with employees and job seekers alike.
“(But) a record number of newly registered nurses are starting their careers in workplaces described by tenured colleagues as “highly toxic.”
“Imagine the impact that has on their passion for the field, their own wellbeing and potential turnover,” said Parker. “This national crisis simply will not be resolved until our healthcare sector shifts its thinking to focus on building people-first workplace cultures.”
Blu Ivy Group had Angus Research conduct the study by interviewing 359 healthcare workers (consisting of doctors, nurses, and other healthcare workers including medical technicians and paramedics) who are members of the Angus Reid Forum. For comparison purposes, a probability sample of this size would yield a margin of error +/- 5.1 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.
The list of what ails healthcare, or worsens the present situation, rarely varies. Included are chronic/communicable diseases like Covid, an aging population, geographical disparity, lack of pharmacare, access to a family physician, health policies and ethics.
The Blu Ivy study provided a list of some of the other woes within the healthcare system.
- 90% of healthcare workers categorize the ‘healthcare system in Canada right now as worse/not good. 94% of doctors and 93% of nurses.
- 49% of nurses and 44% of doctors describe the morale at their workplace as very poor/poor. Fully 48% of healthcare workers report “low morale” in the workplace.
- 56% of nurses described their workload as very poor/poor vs. 46% of doctors. Fully, 49% of healthcare professionals described their workload as very poor/poor.
- 40% of healthcare workers describe their work/life balance as very poor/poor. 43% of male workers described it as very poor/poor vs. 39% of female workers.
- Fully, 38% of healthcare workers rated the level of investment/support in their hospital clinic as very poor/poor.
According to another report, this time by the Fraser Institute, over one million Canadians—3% of the entire population—are waiting for a medical treatment.
Today even more procedures are being postponed due to the lack of beds because of the resurgence of Covid-19 and the reappearance of RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) in children.
Canada’s healthcare system? It’s sick, very sick.
