Safety problems persist in Ontario: SARS report

Toronto's outbreaks of SARS were likely not preventable, the final report of a provincially appointed commission said Tuesday, but more could have been done to protect the safety of health-care workers. The Ontario Ministry of Labour was sidelined during the outbreaks that killed 44 people in the Toronto area, the 1,204-page report called Spring of Fear said, calling for the ministry to play a lead role in future infectious disease outbreaks.

Having occupational health experts involved in containing the outbreaks would have helped protect hospital workers, said the report by Justice Archie Campbell, who was ill Tuesday and unable to attend a news conference.

"Justice Campbell found that systemic problems ran through every hospital and every government agency," said Doug Hunt, chief counsel for the commission.

Hospitals, the report said, are as dangerous for workers as mines and factories, and the courage of front-line health workers saved the province from a worse disaster.

Among Ontario's 375 SARS cases, 45 of those afflicted were health-care workers. Two nurses and a doctor died from SARS.

Source:http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2007/01/09/sars-campbell.html#skip300x250