It is well known that cancer and heart disease are the two biggest causes of death for Canadians. But what gets much less publicity is the third leading cause of death for Canadians – medical errors.

And that is why this week – Canadian Patient Safety Week – is so important. The Canadian Patient Safety Institute says a staggering 28,000 Canadians die every year while getting care due to preventable medical errors. 

A review of 46 studies that measured the well-being and burnout of health care workers found that there is a connection between the well-being of health care workers and patient safety. The worse the well-being of health care workers, the more likely medical errors occurred.

Now Ontario is in danger of having this problem become much worse thanks to the Ford government, which is gutting our health care system.  Cuts to health care funding, services and staff are not going to improve the prospects of reducing medical errors for Ontario’s growing and aging population.

OPSEU represents thousands of health care workers who want to give their patients the best possible care. And we will never stop fighting for the fair and safe working conditions that health care workers need to do their jobs. 

This year’s theme for Canadian Patient Safety Week is “Conquer Silence.” OPSEU is not staying silent when it comes to the Ford government’s destructive agenda. We are calling on the Ford government change course and invest in health care and high-quality public services. It’s a matter of life and death.

In solidarity,

Warren (Smokey) Thomas, President
Eduardo (Eddy) Almeida, First Vice-President/Treasurer