Doctor invites Doug Ford, health minister to visit her ER to see 'collapsed' hospitals firsthand
A GTA emergency physician is inviting Premier Doug Ford and Health Minister Sylvia Jones for a tour of her emergency department so they can witness firsthand the staffing shortages and crisis facing the province’s health-care system.
Dr. Nour Khatib first extended the invitation on social media and again through an interview with CTV News Toronto.
- Download our app to get local alerts to your device
- Get the latest local updates right to your inbox
“This is a true open invitation. I’m a professional respectful person, there will be no hate, nothing but professional. I just want you to see what we are seeing,” Khatib explained.
It’s been a rough summer for Khatib.
The requests to pick up shifts outside the two urban hospitals where she normally works keep coming in. Either because ERs are short staffed or in danger of closing.
To fill gaps, Khatib said she drove back and forth to rural Ontario hospitals three times last week. The ERs are four hours away. She worked long shifts, she said, leaving her feeling exhausted.
Back in the city, she said emergency departments normally equipped with three doctors are sometimes down to two, and with nurses also in critically low supply, patients are not getting the attention or care they deserve.
Respiratory therapist Alisha Clark, left, and registered nurse Joy Turner take a rest in the employee break room in the intensive care unit at the Humber River Hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic in Toronto on Tuesday, January 25, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette
“The waiting room is packed, there are people waiting on the floor, there’s blood on the floor from patients who are bleeding, there’s a long triage line meaning there’s a lineup of people we don’t even know how serious their illness is.”
Khatib said even after ER patients wait hours to be admitted to the hospital, she’ll watch them wait up to two or three days for a bed.
To address the issue, she said she wants to see Bill124 repealed, nurses wages increased, and a national licensing program for doctors and nurses to seamlessly work across provinces.
But, she also says to fix the problem, it must first be acknowledged, and one reason why she believes showing political leaders the situation on the ground is so important.
Dr. Nour Khatib has invited Ontario Premier Doug Ford and Health Minister Sylvia Jones to visit her ER to see the province's health-care crisis firsthand. (Supplied)
“With the shortage, we are doing each other’s jobs. I’m taking out IVs, I’m cleaning a room. I’m bringing patients in. These are not typically the things the physicians would do, but we are doing them. My colleagues and I are all doing that because we need to make the situation work,” she said.
“I am in fact scared for the fall and winter because I don’t know how this collapsed health-care system will keep up with the volumes that are to come.”
Khatib looks forward to hearing from the premier and health minister. She said the hope is to collaborate to get healthcare in Ontario back on the right track.
CTV News Toronto has reached out to the offices of the premier and health minister and is waiting for responses.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Half of Canadians have negative opinion of latest Liberal budget: poll
A new poll suggests the Liberals have not won over voters with their latest budget, though there is broad support for their plan to build millions of homes.
opinion Why you should protect your investments by naming a trusted contact person
Appointing a trusted person to help with financial obligations can give you peace of mind. In his personal finance column for CTVNews.ca, Christopher Liew outlines the key benefits of naming a confidant to take over your financial responsibilities, if the need ever arises.
Twins from Toronto were Canada's top two female finishers at this year's Boston Marathon
When identical twin sisters Kim and Michelle Krezonoski were invited to compete against some of the world’s most elite female runners at last week’s Boston Marathon, they were in disbelief.
Ottawa injects another $36M into vaccine injury compensation fund
The federal government has added $36.4 million to a program designed to support people who have been seriously injured or killed by vaccines since the end of 2020.
Senate expenses climbed to $7.2 million in 2023, up nearly 30%
Senators in Canada claimed $7.2 million in expenses in 2023, a nearly 30 per cent increase over the previous year.
NASA hears from Voyager 1, the most distant spacecraft from Earth, after months of quiet
NASA has finally heard back from Voyager 1 again in a way that makes sense. The most distant spacecraft from Earth hadn't sent home any understandable data since last November.
U.S. Senate passes bill forcing TikTok's parent company to sell or face ban, sends to Biden for signature
The Senate passed legislation Tuesday that would force TikTok's China-based parent company to sell the social media platform under the threat of a ban, a contentious move by U.S. lawmakers that's expected to face legal challenges.
Train derailed in Sarnia after colliding with a truck
Police are investigating after a transport truck collided with a train in Sarnia.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.