Nurses To Speak Out At County Budget Hearing Wednesday

Main Category: Nursing / Midwifery
Article Date: 24 Jun 2009 - 7:00 PDT

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RNs Protest Cuts to Public Health, Pediatrics, TB Clinic, and Other Outpatient Services at San Joaquin County

San Joaquin registered nurses Wednesday will protest proposed cuts in public healthcare services that they say will hit especially hard against children and families in San Joaquin County.

The RNs, members of the California Nurses Association/NNOC, will speak out at a county hearing on proposed budget cuts. Among the items being considered by county officials are closure of a pediatric care unit at San Joaquin General Hospital, reduced services at the Bret Harte Clinic which threatens to increase the spread of tuberculosis, and cuts in pharmacy services.

When: Wednesday, June 24, 1:30 p.m.
Where: Courthouse, Room 701
222 East Weber Ave., Stockton

Nurses say they are especially alarmed at the potential loss of the county hospital's pediatric unit, which services children of ages ranging from 1 to 18. County officials are considering converting the unit to a general medical care unit - which raises a major question about where ill children in San Joaquin County will be able to receive needed medical care. Many could end up having to travel to Davis or Oakland, or go without care, posing a burden on county families and a risk to the children's health.

A second concern is the plan to slash hours of service at Bret Harte, the TB clinic, at a time when San Joaquin has the largest percentage of active TB cases in the state. The county also wants to cut pharmacy hours by more than half, raising the prospect that more patients may end up going without needed medications.

The county is also considering cuts in the number of public health RNs.

"It is counterproductive and dangerous to cut public health services," said Jackie Mandich, RN who works in the county's cancer outpatient clinic. "The likely result, which will increase costs down the road by reducing prevention needed to stem the tide of communicable diseases from TB to the H1N1 (swine flu) virus, is that we'll end up with people needing care in more expensive emergency rooms than in outpatient clinics."

The RNs will also question why the county is cutting vital health services while proposing a multi-million dollar expansion of jail facilities without adequate funding, and purchasing new county vehicles. "The Law and Justice budget will increase $9.6 million while public health services will go begging. Public health is an immediately public safety concern for all county residents," said Barbara Lloyd, RN, a public health nurse for San Joaquin County.

Source
California Nurses Association