Workers fired if they refuse CHSLD work
Physiotherapists, social workers, occupational therapists and speech language pathologists are being threatened with firing if they refuse to go work in CHSLDs, with two hours’ training – way outside their specialties. It’s a ministerial decree.
I also note that doctors and nurses are currently excused the notoriously picky and difficult French-language test which should tell us that test is more a political requirement than a functional one.
SMD 21:32 on 2020-04-25 Permalink
Along the same lines, the order of nurses is also finally allowing nurses trained abroad to work in CHSLDs. But not as nurses, only as nurses’ aides.
JaneyB 11:30 on 2020-04-26 Permalink
@SMD – Oh, that’s a positive step at least. I was wondering when all the foreign-trained med folks would be allowed into the crisis. There are thousands of them in this country and they are far more appropriate than social workers and speech pathologists (!) for the CHSLDs. Hats off to Ontario for leading on this.
jeather 11:47 on 2020-04-26 Permalink
I suspect that just about anyone could work as a patient attendant assistant at an adequate level (and better than no one), but no protective gear and sudden overnight shifts? I know they say far from their home but it seems like it’s within the same CIUSSS they work for, so I’m not sure how far that really is compared to their regular job. I think the real problem is the lack of protective gear — though also I’m curious how actual assistants will respond when suddenly physiotherapists who get paid much more are doing the same work.
Flip 19:53 on 2020-04-26 Permalink
An exceptional pause to the french language test during a global emergency means the test doesn’t have a functional purpose? I don’t see the correlation. I think its quite natural to ensure that doctors and nurses can speak the local language. The comment section on that CBC article would make you think expecting anyone to know french is equivalent to a war crime. But i’m sure they’d naturally expect their nurse to be able to communicate with them in English without realising the other side of the situation.
Kate 09:46 on 2020-04-27 Permalink
Flip, ask anyone who’s taken the French test. Picky, picky, picky grammatical questions, way outside what a medical professional needs to know. Nobody charts using the passé simple.
I’d stake you good odds if birth francophones had to pass this test, half the nurses in Quebec would lose their licences.