MIDDLETOWN, Conn. (WTIC) – Healthcare workers from Connecticut Valley Hospital and Whiting Forensic Hospital gathered for a press conference Wednesday to denounce unsafe staffing levels and management indifference for quality care.
Over 700 workers from the hospitals signed a petition demanding safe staffing levels, adequate training to respond to specific patient populations, proper administration of disciplinary measures and better receptiveness to clinical staff recommendations.
Workers gathered with officials from the New England Health Care Employees Union, SEIU District 1199 and next week, they plan to meet with the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services Commissioner.
Workers state the low staffing levels have led to a crisis in the quality of care provided where retention rates are low and added work stress is at an all-time high.
“Our message to the administration and the public is simple,” said Susan McKinley, a Psychiatric Security Review Board Monitor at Whiting Max. “Proper staffing and effective safety interventions are essential to good care and the patients at Whiting Forensic Hospital deserve nothing less.”
Paul Fortier, the Vice President of SEIU Healthcare 1199 NE, spoke about the current crisis.
“There is a crisis in the quality of care that can be provided given the current staffing numbers and resources available. And there is a crisis in safety for patients, staff and the community. We are asking the administrators at CVH and Whiting to work with us, the front-line workers who provide direct care daily, to fix the ongoing challenges we are facing in these areas.”
During a four-month period this year, dozens of patient-to-staff assaults were recorded at Whiting. Additionally, the facility recently went from 154 workers to 115 current employees as well.