Comments Page
“Patients with a long-term condition know what’s missing from their care, and we want to help manage our own care. If nurses don’t ask me what I need, what you provide may not be what I need most. Often I have to tolerate a kind of deaf and blind care - care that I don’t need or want that makes my situation worse, in order to receive the one thing I know I need. Although I am actually anti-union, I was so impressed to see a union working for ordinary people like me, using their power as a vehicle for positive change - now I have a different perspective. What impressed me most was SUN asking us - the people who really are at the front line, patients and nurses - what we need to change. When I was nursing, it was always some doctor, or academic, or other bigwig who was being paid or bowed to, or listened to - not nurses and patients. It’s about time someone asked for my viewpoint - the view from the other side of the bed.”
-Jeanette C., Former Nurse
“Patients, the public, and the government were very supportive of nurses and SUN when we said we must act to solve the nursing shortage. Now that the SUN/Government Partnership has begun to solve the nursing shortage, SUN and its members can focus on exploring every means to ensure that patients are getting the care they want and need.”
-Rosalee Longmoore, SUN President
“SUN’s 'Patients and Families First' initiative is an example of the kind of leadership we need to ensure the patient care being delivered is what patients need and want. The knowledge and experience nurses have will be a crucial part to improve the patient experience. SUN’s decision provides important energy and momentum for 'Patient First’. I’m very optimistic about what we’re all going to be able to accomplish together."
–Don McMorris, Minister of Health, Government of Saskatchewan
"Nursing care is a highly valued aspect of quality health care delivery for Saskatchewan patients… I applaud SUN for embracing patient- and family-centred care as a guiding principle as they respond to my report recommendations."
Tony Dagnone, Commissioner of the Patient First Review
“Nurses have a unique and important role to play as we reorganize our health system around the needs of patients. We welcome the opportunity to work with union leadership and with frontline nurses to make care better and safer for Saskatchewan patients."
-Dr. Marlene Smadu,Chair, Health Quality Council
“I believe the ability to work in an environment that supports and enables nurses to provide quality care is a goal shared by all nurses. Our ability to respond to patients’ needs in a comprehensive, timely manner has become increasingly challenging due to such things as the nursing shortage, a decrease in experienced nurses and heavier, more complex workloads. Putting patients first can begin to build the bridge that leads to a system of high quality, timely and sustainable health care for all. My vision is stakeholders working collaboratively to achieve a common goal of providing the best health care possible.”
-Sandy Keating, SUN Board Member who has been appointed to help guide the Patients and Families First Initiative
"Huge Hugs of Gratitude for Saskatchewan Union of Nurses for their Patients and Families First Initiative. We're pleased to see this good group of peopole take action to implement good ideas! We especially want to thank Bev Duncan, Lawrence LeMoal and Rosalee Longmoore for welcoming us."
-Ocats (Ovarian Cancer Awareness and Treatment in Saskatchewan - this group has submitted a proposal to the Patients and Families First Challenge. For more information and to support OCATS, see http://www.ocats.ca )
