That Critical Health Profession

"[Open drug use and weapons have become] a widespread issue of significant magnitude [in British Columbia hospitals]."

"[These problems rose to spiralling heights once drugs were decriminalized last year by the British Columbia government.]"

"Before, there would be behaviours that just wouldn't be tolerated, whereas now because of decriminalization, it is being tolerated."

Adriane Gear, president, B.C. Nurses Union

 

"[Patients should be allowed to use illicit substances in their rooms; staff should refrain from calling security or the RCMP to check patients' belongings, or to remove personal items] even if there is a knife or something considered as a weapon under four inches long." 

B.C. Northern Health Authority memo to hospital health workers

"[While non-smoking policies exist, they are simply not being enforced and nurses are fearful of reporting drug exposure and violence because] when they have reported, nothing has changed."

Laura Martin, Victoria General Hospital nurse, union steward

Victoria General Hospital where the BC Nurses union have reported exposure to harmful illicit drugs used by patients  -- CTV News 

 

British Columbia's Health Minister Adrian Dix speaks of the memo -- compelling nurses in the province to have a blind eye to illicit drug, alcohol and tobacco use by patients in hospitals where they serve the 'public interest' in providing health care to a wide variety of provincial residents -- as being 'outdated'. Troubled patients, mong whom are drug addicts and alcoholics and individuals with criminal records for whom the law doesn't apply as stringently in a curtsy to their ancestry, as it would to most residents. Patients from a wide strata of society; those who observe the social contract and those that flout it.

Yet though the memorandum to hospital staff which he negates and refers to as having been poorly written, continues to authorize hospital staff to tolerate drugs and weapons at their workplaces. Nurses publicly describe having to walk through thick plumes of smoke, toxic with fentanyl while open smoking of drugs by patients is tolerated. One nurse cites having been warned of the potential of having been contaminated by drugs exposed to at her workplace; she should avoid thoughts of breastfeeding her baby. Despite this reality the provincial Health Minister claims drug use and weapons are prohibited in hospitals.

As for non-smoking hospital policies, they exist, but are not enforced since nurses hesitate to report infractions. Lily, a nurse of long experience, describes elderly patients sharing rooms with a number of meth addicts constantly filling the air with toxic fumes in a hospital that exhibits reluctance to usher drug users out of the facilities. This, despite that some addicts in fits of psychosis or withdrawal "beat the s--t" out of elderly and disabled patients.

This nurse testifies as having been informed by hospital administrators that as long as patients behaved politely, forbore from issuing threats, it was fine for them to possess knives.  Furthermore, drug abusers at the hospital where Lily works, routinely molest nurses, grabbing at their breasts, subjecting them to sexually inappropriate comments. When nurses complain they are rewarded with "absolutely zero" support.

"We're losing health-care professionals", she said. This, in a country that is notoriously short of hospital staff. During the COVID epidemic many nurses working under duress at long overtime periods, taking up the slack for those who contracted the coronavirus themselves, decided the quality of their lives had suffered along with that of their families to a degree they could no longer commit to nursing. Now, with the pampering of addicts and petty criminals in the hospital system where 'critical race theory' and DEI have their impact, young nurses are re-thinking the profession they thought would be their preferred life-work.

A 2023 WorkSafeBC investigation of Vancouver Island hospitals including Victoria General Hospital found “several symptomatic worker exposures to illicit substances.” Health Minister Adrian Dix Monday announced a task force to help help create province-wide standards in response to rising reports of illicit substances being used in hospitals. (Black Press Media)

"[Drug-addicted patients openly smoke meth and fentanyl in their rooms] every day [patients inject heroin or become drunk, no consequences while dealers traffic illicit substances in the hospital hallways] right in front of everyone."

"We're told that these are their belongings -- all the drugs they have in their rooms. And if we touch anything we can be charged with theft. It's insanity."

"[Nurses are expected to provide harm-reduction services to patients, including pouring alcohol, preparing patients' meth and crack pipes.] We've been told to give them whatever they want. So they'll come and ask for 20 pipes -- because they go out on the street and sell them.  Everyone knows [patients resell their free drug paraphernalia and nurses cannot withhold supplies]."

"I've been threatened with my life. We've absolutely lost control. They threaten us and we're expected to coddle them and kiss their ass."

Lily (pseudonym), Vancouver Island nurse