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CUPE has written to, and is publicly calling on, Ontario's health minister to look into why the hospital has lost 116 staffmembers since 2007. "What our members are reporting to us is a work environment very hierarchical," said Hurley. "People are not able to speak of issues freely without repercussions. If they do speak up they suffer consequences." Hurley said the high degree of turnover isn't just with union members. Members of management have been leaving the hospital as well. "The info I have been given is the morale is low," said North Glengarry Mayor Chris MacDonell, so he is aware of the situation. Hurley said the hospital has brought in a company to survey staff, but nothing has changed and morale remains low. "The survey suggested a work environment

out of step with a modern healthy work environment," said Hurley. "We asked Dr. (Eric) Hoskins, our health minister, to send in an independent investigator. But there has been no response to the valid concerns that we and others have raised," said Hurley. According to a survey of CUPE members at the hospital, 70 per cent of stafffeel people have left because of management at the hospital, and 50 per cent would leave if given the opportunity. Hurley said he has requested to have a meeting with the whole hospital board, but one hasn't been scheduled yet. "That absence of willingness to dialogue shows the deeper problem," he said. "If their employees have serious issues, you would think they would want to hear about them.

"Of greatest concern is the fact 47 per cent of respondents feel that the quality of patient care is not a priority at the hospital," said Hurley. "The minister has an obligation to investigate complaints about a toxic work environment at the Glengarry Memorial Hospital, which we believe affects the quality of patient care. Healthcare workers are under enormous stress. They are working hard to try to deliver high quality patient care. When they speak up to call attention to a situation they believe to be hazardous to patients, the minister should listen carefully. That Dr. Hoskins hasn't acted, is just inexplicable." The minister's office said in an email they were familiar with the hospital's situation and have contacted the Champlain Local Health Integration Network about the matter.

"In Ontario, LHINs are responsible for planning, funding and integrating services at the local level," said the email from David Jensen, media relations co-ordinator. "We expect that the LIHN will continue to work with the hospital and its board of directors to continue improving care for their patients. We encourage the Glengarry Memorial Hospital senior leaders to continue to work with their staffand unions towards effective communication and a solution that benefits everyone." A message left for Linda Morrow, CEO of the hospital, was not returned. lois.baker@sunmedia.ca twitter.com/LoisAnnBaker © 2015 Postmedia Network Inc. All rights reserved. Illustration: • Greg Peerenboom, Standard-Freehol / The Glengarry Memorial Hospital is shown in this Dec. 14