CUPE: Cut and Crowded, Ontario Hospitals Falling Behind UK in Combating Infections

TORONTO, ONTARIO, May 11 (MARKET WIRE) --
Ontario should follow the example of Scotland and Wales, which are hiring
hundreds more cleaners and ending contracting out of cleaning services in
their battles against health care associated infections (HAIs), said
Steve Davies, a UK expert researcher on the connection between cleaning
and controlling infections such as C. difficile, MRSA and VRE in health
care facilities.

"The Scottish ministry of health has just announced it is hiring 600 new
in-house cleaning staff to battle HAIs and Wales is ending all
contracting out," said Davies, senior research fellow at Cardiff
University in Wales. "In-house cleaners prove to be more effective, and
in the long run, at least as cost-effective as contracted out cleaning
services. Ontario should take notice."

Davies, speaking at a Queen's Park media conference today to kick off a
Canadian tour against HAIs organized by the Canadian Union of Public
Employees, noted that many Canadian governments are going down the wrong
track.

"More overcrowding, more understaffing and contracting out of cleaning
services puts patients and health care workers at unnecessary risk," said
Davies, who has worked with government bodies, parliamentary authorities,
employers and unions, and who contributed to the Romanow Commission in
2001.

The Canadian National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health gives
five reasons for the spread of infectious pathogens: crowding, contact,
cuts or abrasions, contaminated surfaces, and lack of cleanliness. High
hospital bed occupancy is a major factor in the first two, and
insufficient front line staff largely determines the last two. A recent
UK study found that hospitals with occupancy levels over 90 per cent can
expect a 10.3 per cent higher MRSA rate. In 2005, Canada's bed occupancy
rate was 95 per cent.

"Canada has one of the highest bed occupancy rates in the OECD, but we're
still adding fuel to the HAI fire by cutting back on cleaning staff and
contracting out services to the lowest bidder," said Louis Rodrigues,
First Vice-President, Ontario Council of Hospital Unions/Canadian Union
of Public Employees (OCHU/CUPE). "Let's learn from the UK, reduce
occupancy rates and bolster in-house cleaning services."

Health care associated infections are the fourth-leading cause of death
in Canada, with an annual infection rate of 220,000, resulting in
8,500-12,000 deaths each year.

Contacts:
Steve Davies
Senior Research Fellow
Cardiff University, Wales
416-994-8277 Copyright

Louis Rodrigues
First, Vice President
OCHU/CUPE
613-531-1319 Copyright

David Robbins
CUPE Communications
613-878-1431 Copyright
www.CUPE.ca

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