The Newfoundland and Labrador Nurses’ Union (NLNU) and other Canadian nurses unions are calling for a halt to plans to eliminate nurses from blood-donor screening.
In a letter sent this week to federal Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq, the nurses’ unions detailed their objections to the Canadian Blood Services proposal to eliminate nurses from direct donor screening.
“We know from the Krever Commission that the drive for cost-effectiveness and cost-efficiency can jeopardize blood safety,” NLNU President Debbie Forward said in a news release.
“One of the most critical elements to ensuring a safe blood supply is the careful screening and assessment of all potential blood donors.”
The objections of nurses unions to the elimination of nurses from direct donor screening are based on research that found that: a registered nurses and/or physicians are typically used in donor screening, contrary to Canadian Blood Services claims they are not; there is no evidence that the use of lesser skilled, unregulated workers would not jeopardize the blood supply or donor health; and employers can address retention and recruitment problems through improving the quality of the workplace.
 Linda Silas, President of the Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions, said nurses unions across the country have asked Health Canada to reject the Canadian Blood Services proposal to replace nurses with unregulated, lesser skilled workers.
“The proposal to replace nurses is a step in the wrong direction,” she said.
The news release also states that 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 safe blood.
“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.”