With reference to the recent stats presented to the Northern Health board, I am very concerned at the high numbers of musculoskeletal/soft tissue injuries being sustained by staff together with accompanying mental health issues. These are most likely associated with the high acuity of patients, leading to greatly increased workload for all staff. When staff are faced with high numbers of patients in hallways and tub rooms, not only is the workload greatly increased but because of the location of these patients, there is very little room to work safely around them. High stress also automatically increases the risk of injury.
I think it is a great shame in a healthcare environment that so little attention is paid to the very staff which are the precious resource of the institution and indeed to the general public. It would be good to hear of some positive steps that are being made to improve these terrible conditions that staff are currently working under.
Rosemary Gutteridge
Prince George
