Lowering the bar: CBS

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We the undersigned believe that a recent Canadian Blood Services proposal to replace nurses with unlicensed workers will endanger Canadas blood supply. Since the 1997 Justice Krever inquiry following the tainted blood tragedy where more than 1,000 Canadians who received blood transfusions were infected with HIV and Hepatitis C, Canadian Blood Services has built their reputation as providers of a safe blood supply.

One of the most critical elements to ensuring a safe blood supply is the careful screening and assessment of all potential blood donors.

The screening of potential donors has become even more expensive and intrusive, Justice Krever said in his report. Careful screening is essential to maintain a safe blood supply and it must continue.

Currently, nurses are responsible for screening and assessing all potential donors.

We believe that the proposal by Canadian Blood Services to replace nurses with unlicensed workers poses a serious threat to Canadas blood supply. Only nurses have the education and experience to deal with the many complexities of screening potential donors.

As professionals, nurses are accountable to the public through their licensing bodies. Unlicensed workers are not bound by any code of ethics or regulations.

We urge you, as the person ultimately responsible for the safety of Canadas blood supply, to veto this proposal.

668 Signatures

  • Meghan Hurley
  • Breanna Harms
  • Susan Zimmerman
  • Nadine McLean
  • Betty King
  • Christie Wood
  • Karen Fleming
  • Annette Guy
  • Alanna Andres
  • Elisa Sapitula
  • Louella Loughery
  • Glynis Cadger
  • Judi Cuvelier
  • Margaret Joan Dyck
  • Jackie Jones
  • michael skibinski
  • Katherine Hainsworth
  • susan barchyn
  • Judy Voth
  • Jennifer Yaworski
  • France Lafleche
  • Judy Naaykens
  • Maxine Coulombe
  • Brenda Lesyk
    • Comments
    • to ensure safe blood supply nurses must be kept in these roles.
  • Kathryn Yorke RN BN
    • Comments
    • Those receiving blood & blood products are often NOT in a position to decline, or question its' use. Nurses are the first line of defence in determining who is qualified to donate. Don't replace them!
  • L Koester
  • ccarriere2
  • Kelly Tone
  • Rolando Jaramilla
  • linda winia
    • Comments
    • it is essential that patients are assessed and monitored by an experienced trained proffessional
  • Ann-Lou Balbin
  • Catherine Noton
  • Donna M. Millette
  • Karen Zurba
    • Comments
    • i truly believe this would be a huge step backwards in your promise to Canadians of a safe blood system.. if you won't hire a new RN Graduate today, why will you hire a grade 12 graduate tomorrow? it does not sound you are fully aware of the importance of a well trained, licensed professional screening all potential donors. your decision is based on cost cutting, NOT improving donor service. if you want to improve donor service, look at how poorly your clinic flow model is working and fix that. if you want to cut costs, reduce some of the exorbitant salaries you are paying your upper level ( eg. CEO) and stop making your cost cuts at the blood collection level where the safety of the blood supply IS affected. Your are going against the recommendations of Justice Krever and the words of Ian Mumford that health assessment should be done by a professional. and if you want to quote the fact that this is done in the US, why are Physician's screening all potential donors in countries like Germany, etc...
  • Marise Frankel
  • Darren McRobbie
  • barb cummine
  • Kirsten Andersson
  • Karen Cleaver
  • Deb Stewart
    • Comments
    • Does the CBS have no memory? Why would they even for a moment place the lives of Canadians at risk? My comments are not suggesting there is mo role for assitive health care providers, but surely to goodness, when we have the resources of a nurse with many years of education and training we ought to aim for the best in healthcare.
  • Margaret Cherewyk
    • Comments
    • I want to keep our blood safe, only a regulated trained profefessional can provide the appropriate assessments for blood donars.
  • Marcel Cherewyk
  • Tracy Wood
  • david critchley
  • Wendy Giesbrecht
  • lorne critchley
  • rusty barton
  • Karen Bernauer
  • kyle critchley
  • Mike Bell