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Buffalo Nurses Rally for Better Health Care, More Insurance
Concerned about rising medical costs, huge numbers of uninsured patients, seriously understaffed hospitals and other patient-care problems, CWA-represented nurses in Buffalo, N.Y., led citywide rallies in June to call for solutions.
Nurses from CWA Locals 1122, 1133 and 1168, along with members of other health care unions, community groups and provider associations throughout Buffalo, demonstrated at 14 sites for two hours at lunchtime June 7.
“Over 45 million, mostly working, people are uninsured,” Patricia DeVinney, president of Local 1168, said at a news conference before the rallies. “The consequences of this failed system are enormous. Patient admissions are delayed or denied. The uninsured are often extremely ill by the time they are admitted.”
But the health care crisis affects people with insurance, too, DeVinney said. That’s because hospitals are squeezing their labor budgets, cutting staff and overworking already physically and mentally exhausted nurses and health care workers.
“In the short term — immediately — the state of New York must address the dire shortage of nurses and health care workers that is threatening the quality of care and services,” she said.
Barbara Bauch, president of Local 1133 and a nurse for 30 years, said cost-cutting has pushed staffing levels to dangerous lows, leaving aides to do things that once require full-fledged nurses. “Anybody can change a dressing,” Bauch said. “But is the person doing it someone who can see the signs of infection, someone who understands what they’re looking at in terms of a person’s total health?”
The nurses called for new regulations that better define the level of care patients should expect and rules prohibiting hospitals from using exhausted workers to maintain staffing levels. Policy makers also must develop an effective plan for recruitment and training in the health care professions, she added.
“Over the long term, we need to look at these issues of health care coverage, sufficient staffing levels, safety, quality, patient care and affordable cost as a complete package,” DeVinney said. “We believe now is the time for this state, indeed this country, to be bold — to call for comprehensive reform.”
That kind of change demands action on a large scale — the reason for the rallies — Bauch said. “We, the community, can provide the cure,” she said. “We all need to become enlightened, create a powerful lobbying committee then go out and move mountains.”
Nurses from CWA Locals 1122, 1133 and 1168, along with members of other health care unions, community groups and provider associations throughout Buffalo, demonstrated at 14 sites for two hours at lunchtime June 7.
“Over 45 million, mostly working, people are uninsured,” Patricia DeVinney, president of Local 1168, said at a news conference before the rallies. “The consequences of this failed system are enormous. Patient admissions are delayed or denied. The uninsured are often extremely ill by the time they are admitted.”
But the health care crisis affects people with insurance, too, DeVinney said. That’s because hospitals are squeezing their labor budgets, cutting staff and overworking already physically and mentally exhausted nurses and health care workers.
“In the short term — immediately — the state of New York must address the dire shortage of nurses and health care workers that is threatening the quality of care and services,” she said.
Barbara Bauch, president of Local 1133 and a nurse for 30 years, said cost-cutting has pushed staffing levels to dangerous lows, leaving aides to do things that once require full-fledged nurses. “Anybody can change a dressing,” Bauch said. “But is the person doing it someone who can see the signs of infection, someone who understands what they’re looking at in terms of a person’s total health?”
The nurses called for new regulations that better define the level of care patients should expect and rules prohibiting hospitals from using exhausted workers to maintain staffing levels. Policy makers also must develop an effective plan for recruitment and training in the health care professions, she added.
“Over the long term, we need to look at these issues of health care coverage, sufficient staffing levels, safety, quality, patient care and affordable cost as a complete package,” DeVinney said. “We believe now is the time for this state, indeed this country, to be bold — to call for comprehensive reform.”
That kind of change demands action on a large scale — the reason for the rallies — Bauch said. “We, the community, can provide the cure,” she said. “We all need to become enlightened, create a powerful lobbying committee then go out and move mountains.”