Following the legalization of recreational cannabis in October, more Canadians may be looking to experiment with it for its medicinal benefits. NP Morgan Toombs, CEO of O Cannabis, Canada’s only NP-led medical cannabis clinic, says it has already helped nearly 10,000 Canadians with their cannabis needs (e.g. how to use it safely and effectively). Toombs says her clients prefer a “natural” medicine, and are seeking medication that can work without side effects. “The feedback that we’ve been getting is just extraordinary,” Toombs says. “This is really why we all do the work that we do. People are getting better with medical cannabis and it’s so rewarding to hear their stories.” Toombs says NPs are filling a gap created by this new treatment option, and are serving the patients who want to try it. “Patients who have tried everything, and they’ve had a really hard time finding the right medicine … will have often approached their doctors and are not able to get access,” Toombs says. Physicians may sometimes feel uncomfortable prescribing medical cannabis, she says, so patients come to a clinic like hers to get more information and care. (CTV News, Nov. 17)

It is vital for parents and children to communicate with one another in order to stop human trafficking, says Huron County Health Unit RN Johanna Calamusa. The public health nurse was participating in a human trafficking awareness presentation at Exeter’s South Huron District High School in October when she told attendees that “(children) will talk if you listen.” It’s the parents’ job to be educated about human trafficking, she adds. The event, hosted by the health unit in collaboration with other organizations, including Victim Services Huron County, was created to teach parents and students about human trafficking, who is vulnerable, and how to identify signs that someone may be victimized. Calamusa encourages families to have meals together every day as a way to connect and build structure in the family. Parents should also teach their children what healthy relationships look like, she notes. (The Mitchell Advocate, Oct. 25

The cancellation of Greyhound trips in Western Canada and northern Ontario is causing health concerns for those in the affected communities. In Ontario, the move affects seniors who can no longer drive to their medical appointments. Since Nov. 1, Greyhound stopped service between Sudbury and Thunder Bay, affecting cities like Sault Ste. Marie and Terrace Bay. Carol Huard, chief nurse at Thunder Bay’s McCausland Hospital (Terrace Bay), says the change makes it difficult for people in these rural communities. “We have a lot of elderly people. We have a lot of people who don’t like to drive in the city anymore. They would essentially be stranded without the Greyhound,” says Huard. In Terrace Bay, more than half of the 1,600 residents are 50 years or older. Some can no longer drive or rely on their children, who have gone to work in the big cities, adds Huard. (CBC Northern Ontario, Oct. 26) 
 

Ontario’s patient ombudsman may be no more after speculation at Queen’s Park that Premier Doug Ford does not intend to fill the vacancy. The patient ombudsman is in charge of ensuring the voices of patients and caregivers at hospitals and long-term care homes are heard. The role was previously filled by Christine Elliott, who left in February to run for the leadership of the Ontario Progressive Conservative Party and later became health minister. RNAO CEO Doris Grinspun says the position should not be eliminated. “The public needs to have a point-of-contact to speak about health system experiences and improvements. We have a lot to learn from the public and, at the end of the day, they are recipients of the care,” Grinspun says. The public has increasingly been using the office since it opened in 2016. In its first year it received 2,000 complaints. In 2017, that number went up to 2,300. Between July and October 2018, the patient ombudsman has taken 850 complaints, a higher monthly average than the year before. If the position is not filled “a voice will be lost – the voice of the public,” says Grinspun. With the top job vacant, the office still has 17 staff, including early resolution specialists, investigators, and other administrative staff. (CBC News, Dec. 4) 

Concerned nurses and members of the public gathered in Sudbury on Nov. 12 for a town hall meeting hosted by the Ontario Health Coalition. RNAO member emeritus Dot Klein, head of the Sudbury Health Coalition, says she has seen a lot of change in the health system over four decades as a nurse, but never “the level of care we have here now.” The ruling practice in hospitals, she says, is to “…get the job done for the least amount of money.” This leaves RNs vulnerable to budget cuts. Health Sciences North (HSN) has cut positions at the hospital this year. “This is unsafe and puts both patients and staff at risk,” says Klein. The hospital is always running at more than 110 per cent capacity, she adds. In November, RNAO responded to a Canadian Institute for Health information (CIHI) report that found Ontario is the second-lowest per capita spender on hospitals in Canada (see more in Policy, page 22). On Dec. 11, hospital spokesperson Jason Turnbull announced that after several months of working with unions, retirement incentives, attrition and other measures, there are “no plans for a further round of layoffs at HSN.” (The Sudbury Star, Nov. 13)