(February 25, 2022)<\/p>\n
By: Daryl Newcombe, CTV News London<\/p>\n
A local political push is beginning to make healthcare a top election issue.<\/p>\n
As the pandemic once again begins to subside, local healthcare advocates want to ensure the crisis it caused in front line medicine remains front and centre during the upcoming provincial election.<\/p>\n
The London Health Coalition (LHC) expressing fear about further privatization and cuts to public healthcare during a news conference.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is a disaster for our already beleaguered public healthcare system,\u201d said LHC\u2019s Peter Bergmanis.<\/p>\n
OPSEU\u2019s Sara Labelle expressing similar concern about the province sliding towards greater privatization.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe deliver services in hospitals based on your need, not on the size of your wallet,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n
The London Health Coalition announced the launched what it\u2019s dubbed a \u201cfight back campaign\u201d this spring coinciding with the provincial election.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt really is important for this to be an issue across the province. We really need to fight to protect our public healthcare,\u201d Labelle explained.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the Registered Nurses Association of Ontario (RNAO) held a separate news conference to unveil its 5-point election platform for all provincial parties to consider.<\/p>\n
It includes a goal to increase the number of nurses in Ontario by 50 percent over the next 8 years, through retention and recruiting.<\/p>\n
Dr. Doris Grinspun telling reporters, \u201cWe need to urgently turn the tide around before it reaches a point of no return.\u201d<\/p>\n
The London Health Coalition will host an online emergency summit of concerned citizens and stakeholders on April 6<\/p>\n
Ontarians go to the polls June 2.<\/p>\n