This bill changes the rules about how many patients nurses are allowed to care for in hospitals in Ontario. It sets specific limits called ratios, such as 1 patient for each nurse in critical care on ventilators, and up to 7 patients for rehabilitative care during night shifts. The goal is to improve patient care and nurse working conditions. The new rules will start one year after the bill becomes law.
If you go to a hospital in Ontario, nurses may have fewer patients to care for at the same time. For example, for very sick patients on ventilators, one nurse will care for only one patient. For other types of care, the number of patients per nurse will be limited. This may help ensure patients get more attention. Nurses might have less workload but hospitals may need to hire more staff to follow these rules. The law aims to make hospitals safer and improve healthcare.
Since the bill requires hospitals to follow new nurse-to-patient ratios, hospitals could face extra costs if they need to hire more nurses. The bill does not specify exact costs. Data unavailable on the total cost of hiring additional staff or implementing the new ratios. It is likely that hospitals will need to increase their staffing budgets to meet these rules, especially in busy or specialized units.
Supporters say the bill will improve patient safety by ensuring nurses are not overworked. They argue that better ratios mean nurses can give more attention to each patient and catch problems early. This could lead to better health outcomes and a safer hospital environment. Supporters also believe it will help nurses have a healthier workload and reduce burnout.
Opponents claim that the bill could be too costly for hospitals, especially smaller ones. They worry that hospitals might have trouble hiring enough nurses to meet the new limits, leading to staff shortages. Some believe this could increase wait times and reduce access to care. There is concern about whether hospitals will have enough money or staff to fully follow the new rules without affecting other services.