[May 26, 2020] The protection of healthcare workers on the frontline of COVID-19 has been SUN’s number one priority since the beginning of this pandemic, and it is something our team has been working on diligently. Together with other Saskatchewan healthcare unions (SGEU, SEIU West, CUPE and HSAS), the Ministry of Health and the SHA, SUN has created a Joint Statement on Principles for Protecting the Health and Safety of Healthcare Workers, Patients, Clients and Residents.
Today, we're very pleased to inform you that each of our partners has signed the document. It is important that PPE is recognized as a vital piece of Saskatchewan's COVID-19 response, and we appreciate that the Ministry of Health and SHA share this belief.
The joint statement contains several very important protective measures for you and your colleagues:
- Confirmation that all healthcare workers who are required to come into contact with suspected, presumed or confirmed COVID-19 cases will have access to the appropriate Personal Protective Equipment.
- Commitment to providing appropriate PPE, including an N95 respirator, to health care workers who deem that level of PPE necessary after completing their point-of-care risk assessment and exercising their professional judgement in evaluating health and safety measures required.
- Clarification that N95 respirators or an approved equivalent-or-better must be worn by all who are in a room during an Aerosol-Generating Medical Procedure, or where AGMPs are frequent or probable, as well as by all who enter a room following an AGMP before the prescribed settle time has elapsed.
These principles demonstrate a system-wide commitment to providing the appropriate PPE to you and your frontline colleagues when you need it.
You can read the entire joint statement here.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact SUN Communications by responding to this email or emailing sun.communications@sun-nurses.sk.ca.
In solidarity
Tracy Zambory, RN
President
