Page 24, Whitbv Free Press,,Wednesday, October 19, 1994 V 1 = WIB SVHATRC SA1 iCfii7ig Union refleots viewsý of front*Iine workers by John Dujay. Recent eutbacks announced by the health ministry will have an adverse effeet on the new Whitby Psychiatrie Hqapital. building, says local OPSEU president Joan Gâtes. "We want to make sure that they realize that these cuts are not going to be user fýriendly," she says. They will "'seriously' affect the amount of -services." She explains that if funding is eut, it will be difflicult to effi- ciently manage the new faeility. "I can't elieve that this governnent la doing this,» says an incredulous Gates, a regis- terèd nurse who works at WPH. "We did what we were supposed to do," sle says. Downsizing was begun iii 1984 because of the plnned redevelopment of the hospital and the move toward more community-based mental health reformn. Gates'decries the $4.72 million cutback as a «huge mistake" and says, "Hopefully, we have a func- tional system to take into our riew hospital." She explains that the hospital is already functioning with mini- mal fun ding. How the are to move into the new building with Iess funds la beyond hier compre- hension. Gates, who hais been local union president for 10 years, says hier job is «very demanding." She says that one of the biggest concernas in recent times hMs been,"trying to make sure a safer workplace is maintained.» With the old buildings being decades. old, there were some major . . safety concerns. Hopefully she says these issues will be adressed a's the entire operation will be moving into t he new building. l"We present views of the front- une workers," la how she describes what the union does. It represents 760 employees, all of whom work at WPIH. She complaina that the psychi- atric community hais long Yben thought of as the "poor brother of the health care system» and therefore receives less adequate funding than regular hospitals. Diseases of the mind are less open than diseases of the body, shiesays. "It's something you can't see, so it's something you can't con- trol," . she says of the cern- THE MALE NURSES CHOIR at the psychiatric faciity-in 1939.~ Whltby Psychlatric Hospital Archives photo munity's prevailing attitude. - In er tenure at MWH (she arrived in 1978), ahe* has seen great change in how 'mental hiealth care is delivered. She says that nurses have taken on much greater responsibilities than in the past. And it will go on. "The role of a nurse wiIl con- tinue to evolve," she says. Today they must heîp patients more by. motivating them and beîping them cope with the stresses of modemn society. "It's bard enough for an average per- son," she says. Education for empîoyees will be an imùportant tool for dealing with vast changes in the system, says Gate-s. "It makes for better workers." That is why she pro- urges all employees to. take courses to upeade their skilla 'and abilities. Gates enjoys her . job im- mensely, and, says it is much more fulf'iling than anything else she has done.-«Youcan se that you can help people," she says of ber daily nursing duties. When she first arrived.at WH in 1978, she thought.,,"Maybe L'l stay for a year.» Ho.wever, shè liked it s0 much, she is still there. She says that a lot of the staff at WPH have had the same attitude but end* up staying-on for a lot longer than ýthey. expec-ý; ted. 1 ______ _.._........___ . ............................................... GO) on GRATULATI O ïStI~ anftiuekscu~j( Proud. Builder of WhitbyMental Health Cent.re. T........e.. .t.af.ofTh..a.n Stor P.ls w ...d.like.to succss iiMtekfuure 1s b YEARS -4 0 A