Conservatives' platform lacking specifics around health care: RPNAO

The Registered Practical Nurses Association of Ontario (RPNAO) today commented on the Progressive Conservatives' Changebook platform, saying the document lacks important details around the party's plans for health care and nursing in Ontario.

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Cornwall - May. 31, 2011 - The danger with being the first Party to announce your platform, is that it gives the other parties and groups more time to pick it apart. The Registered Practical Nurses Association of Ontario (RPNAO) commented on the Progressive Conservatives' Changebook platform, saying the document lacks important details around the party's plans for health care and nursing in Ontario.

"While we are encouraged that the various political parties appear to be committed to supporting publicly-funded health care, we are concerned that the Conservatives' platform is simply too light on specifics," says Dianne Martin, Executive Director of RPNAO. "Ontario voters need access to real, detailed information from all of the parties in order to make an informed decision at the polls."

"Ontario's health care system is already under strain and in the months and years ahead will need to deal with the effects of inflation as well as the increased pressures associated with an aging population. We recognize that difficult decisions will need to be made with respect to Ontario's health care system," Martin says. "But Ontarians need details from the political parties about what those decisions will look like."

The association says it is also concerned that the Progressive Conservatives' platform appears to undervalue the role of the nurse manager - a key position that is vitally important to the effective operation of any nursing team.

"At the end of the day, our focus is on our ability to provide top-quality care to Ontario's patients and their families," says Martin. "Any party that seeks to form the next provincial government must understand the need to sustain the quality of health care going forward. Any move that serves to erode or diminish that quality of care will be unacceptable. In advance of the upcoming election, we're simply proposing that Ontarians need more details from all the political parties to enable them to make educated, informed decisions."

OurHometown.ca will offer space to each of the provincial candidates to write a column to discuss relevant Provincial issues. Perhaps through that process we will learn more details about all of the Party's platforms.

Ontarians go to the polls on Thursday October 6, 2011.