NGH Leadership Urging Residents to Choose Kindness

Friday, 24 September 2021 15:11

The Norfolk General Hospital has noticed an alarming trend recently of verbal abuse and harassment by patients and visitors towards front line workers.

NORFOLK COUNTY - Leadership at Norfolk General Hospital is urging residents to choose kindness.

They note an alarming increase in verbal harassment and abuse by patients and visitors against front line workers over the last year. They have written an open letter to the public. You can read that letter below:

Dear patients, families and communities we serve,

Over the past year, we have seen an increase of harassment and verbal abuse by patients and visitors against our front-line workers. The brunt of abuse our staff has received includes harmful messages, harassment, bullying, name-calling, ethnic insults, and verbal and physical abuse. It has reached the point where it has resulted in emotional distress and moral injury.

This type of behaviour undermines the hard work and sacrifices of hospital staff, nurses, and physicians over the past 18 months. We condemn, in the strongest of terms, this targeted and misdirected abuse and harassment of healthcare workers that have occurred at our hospital. To all of our staff: We are grateful for the sacrifices you have made throughout this pandemic and for going above and beyond every day to keep us safe. We are incredibly humbled by the resilience that you have shown during this pandemic. We stand by you and with you.

Please know there is an overwhelming majority in our community who support you and the enormous sacrifices you have made and continue to make during this pandemic. Shortly after COVID-19 reached Canada, the community quickly realized that not all heroes wear capes, some heroes wear scrubs. They have publicly shown their support and appreciation by writing cards and placing signs of praise and encouragement on their homes. Others supported the hospital with financial donations and delivered food for the workers, which was greatly appreciated In these times of increasing uncertainty, our healthcare workers need to see our community’s support now more than ever.

We understand that people are growing tired of the pandemic, but we need everyone to show a little more kindness and respect to the staff, nurses, and physicians who continue to selflessly work around the clock to provide care to those who need it most.

Sincerely,

Kim Mullins
Interim President & CEO

Dr. Mohammad Amir Sheik-Yousouf
Chief of Staff

Dan Hill
Vice President – Finance and Chief Financial Officer

Sarah-Jane Irvine
Chief Human Resources Officer

Sherry Chambers
Interim VP of Patient Care