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WHITBY FREE PRESS., WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 23, 1981, PAGE 3 WPH staffers 0 paMt a bleak picture of local health care OSHAWA - Staff short- ages and government cutbacks have led to staff morale and other problems - including violence - at the Whitby Psychiatric Hospital. Claims such as these were made to an invest- igation panel looking in- to mental health care across Ontario last week. The panel was spon- sored by the Ontario Public Service Employ- ees Union (OPSEU) and listened to horror stories from its mem- bers working at the WPH. One nurse told the panel that there have been many suicide at- tempts at the facility. "Three or four patien- ts at a time have slashed their wrists with broken glass or jagged pop cans," Dawn Adams told the panel. She also claimed that patients are inadequate- ly supervised by too few staff. This has lead to attacks not only on staff but on other patients as well. "It is a hopeless, help- less, end-of-the-road line," Adams said. "I often see myself as a glorified baby-sitter in an increasinly unsafe and uncomfortable posi- tion." The panel was also told that the staff dentist was so overworked that instead of fixing teeth, he pulled them, that barbers and hair- dressers only came twice, instead of five times a week and that the staff was over- worked with low morale." Other OPSEU mem- bers painted an equally bleak picture. Barry Casey, chief OPSEU steward at the Durham Centre for the Developmentally Han- dicapped, said staff members are becoming "burned-out" because of too few workers and too much work. "Staff are gradually giving up. They are beginning a psychologi- cal strike." Casey maintained that because of budget restraints, five direct care positions were cut from the payroll. He added that there are now 6.7 residents - who are mentally retarded - to each staff member. Residents, he went on to say, have been known to develop pinworms and skin infections. Other problems in- clude an increase in ai> senteeism and high staff turnover. Job dissatis- faction bas led to a recent turnover of 25 people, Casey said. Durham Centre has about 150 residents. Even psychiatrists are affected. Fred Upshaw, presi- dent of the WPH OPSEU Local 331, said that one psychiatrist resigned last month and another will leave before the new year. The panel was also told that WPH has a shortage of psychia- trists and three vacan- cies cannot be filled. Other testimony heard by the panel in- cluded that of a cook who said that mashed potatoes are used to thicken food when flour is not available. Dale Bates claimed that he and other cooks were told to use flour to thicken soups and sauces and to use mashed potatoes when it's not available. He said that govern- ment cutbacks totalling $470,000 have affected the kitchen which pre- pares meals for some 600 people a day. These cutbacks have resulted in salads without tomatoes, shepherd's pie without onions and no mayonan- aise. Two days from now, most people will sit down to Christmas din- ner with pumpkin pie for dessert. However, according to Bates, the pumpkin pie at WPH will be made of squash and spices. He claimed that the food is not nutritional because it is overcooked so that it is warm enough when served in the various buildings throughout the facility. This view of hospital food was shared by Dianne-Lynn Franklin of the Durham Centre which gets its meals from the WPH kitchens. She told the panel that supper often arrives at 3:30 p.m. and when it is served at 5 p.m. is un- identifiable and soggy. Franklin also said that the residents are given vitamin pills to supplement that which they don't get in their food. The responsibility for this 'Situation was laid clearly on the govern- ment's shoulders. Upshaw said that he was advised of the $470,000 budget cut two months ago. This cutback adds to problems faced by staff shortages, he added. Upshaw claimed that there are now waiting lists for patients needing occupational therapy. "This means that a patient who needs occu- pational therapy must sit around on the ward for weeks until a spot Is available," he said. Further complicating the problem is the fact that staff is being kept to a minimum. "As a matter of fact," Upshaw said, "in one adolescent ward, only one staff is posted for the night shift. On most wards, minimum safety numbers are posted." "Because of minimum staffing, staff are expected to work longer stretches with fewer weekends off thus causing mental strain, leading to sickness, which leads to low staff morale which leads to an indifferent attitude towards patients," he added. Upshaw continued saying that this leads to resignations with a de- crease in staff and ser- vices. The acting chairman of the OPSEU-spon- sored panel, Betty Jane Wylie, said the testi- mony showed that government financial cutbacks have resulted in a "bleak picture" of the care given at WPH. Wylie added that the panel has heard similar stories in eight other hearings held across Ontario. Il0- _r - c From the staff of the Whitby Free Press Christmas is now only two days away and the staff of the Whitby Free Press would like to take this oppor- tunity to wish our-readers a very Merry Christmas and a Happy and Prosperous New Year. This also represents an opportunity for us to introduce ourselves to you. Seated in the centre is Michael Burgess, Publisher and Managing Editor of the Whitby Free Press. From left to right are: Frank, Sally, Valerie, Steve, Roxanne, Cathy, Mike Knell, Gazel, Marjorie, Mary, Jim, Barry and Ruth. Missing from the photo are Dianne and Ting as well as the 100 boys and girls who faithfully deliver the Free Press each week. Once again, we wish you and yours a very Merry Christmas and may this year finally bring "Peace on Earth and Goodwill Towards Men." -Free Press Staff Photo * ANNOUNCEMENTS * RECEPTION CARDS * INVITATIONS * THANK YOU CARDS I. PRINTING AND OFFICE SUPPLIES: 218 Har wood Ave.S. Ajax, Ontario __ 683-1968 Christmas Specials Boys Dress 16.80 SLACKS REG. $20.98 18.40 REG $22.98 GIRLS SLACKS 20 % OFF GIRLS & BOYS WINTER COATS 25 % OFF SNOWSUITS 20 % OFF | T YS OPEN MON.-FRI. 9-9 SAT.9-5:30 TO.TS & TEENS 10 KingE. :576-9093