Staff at Hamilton schizophrenia program ‘very frustrated’ by high demand, nurses’ union says

Workers at a Hamilton program serving people with schizophrenia are overwhelmed by patients while staff levels haven't kept up, a nurses' union says.

Staff are very frustrated," said Ontario Nurses' Association president Vicki McKenna, adding that heavy workloads have meant shortening or cancelling appointments to address emergencies. They also are worried that some of the staff will leave."

Hamilton Program for Schizophrenia is a community-based program in Beasley offering treatment and rehabilitation to adults with schizophrenia. The program has seen more than 100 new clients over the past several years, said ONA spokesperson Katherine Russo in an email. The wait-list continues to grow."

There are nine registered nurses and other health-care workers on staff combined, according to an ONA release.

The program's executive director didn't respond to requests for comment.

An annual report from March 2020 indicates that the Hamilton Program for Schizophrenia served more than 260 clients at the time.

Staff believe that because they aren't able to intervene and support as quickly as they should, some folks are suffering," McKenna added.

The union was expected to enter conciliation with the employer on Monday.

McKenna said the program saw clients increase even before the pandemic.

Some of that has to do with limited services in acute care, where ... there's not enough beds," she said.

In a joint statement last week, Ontario NDP Leader Andrea Horwath and Hamilton Mountain MPP Monique Taylor, who's also the NDP's mental health critic, said it was disheartening" that the program's nurses are struggling to meet the skyrocketing demand for intensive mental health services.

Experts and advocates have been sounding the alarm for months about the impending wave of demand for mental health services as the pandemic subsides and the province reopens," the statement said. It's the Hamiltonians who rely on these services who will suffer from understaffing and the rationing of mental health care."

Maria Iqbal is a Hamilton-based reporter at The Spectator covering aging issues. Reach her via email: miqbal@thespec.com.