Nurses face potentially higher patient loads during ‘surge’ times under leaked Ross Memorial memo

Hospital says it is committed to ‘safe, high-quality care’

A leaked memo from an anonymous nurse at Ross Memorial Hospital seems to show the hospital’s willingness to add two extra patients without increasing nursing care.

The information comes from a hospital memo dated Aug. 19, 2026, from Jennifer Burns, VP clinical services and chief nursing executive under the subject “Overtime Reduction Initiatives.”

Ostensibly sent to nursing staff at RMH, the memo contains several policy declarations, including one titled “Patient Surge.”

“During periods of patient surge, units may flex up to two additional patients without an increase in the allocated staffing workload,” it reads.

In another part of the memo, under “Weekend Partial Shifts,” it reads: “Partial weekend shifts that would result in overtime will not be awarded.”

And under another header, “Consecutive Weekend Overtime,” the memo notes that, “Employees will not be permitted to work consecutive weekend overtime shifts.”

Kawartha Lakes Weekly contacted the nurse, who agreed to share more without attribution, since they are not permitted to speak for the hospital or the department. The nurse said they also received texts from RMH like:

“URGENT: Emerg in need of 1900-0700 for tonight Aug 14. If able to assist at all please call 6103.”

And, “URGENT In need of RN or RPN Day shift in multiple units please call scheduling at Ext 6103 Aug 18.”

“(They are) always understaffed and now not willing to pay overtime to staff (who are) willing to work,” the source said.

They added, “I have a few concerns about the hospital putting their budget before the patients.”

The newspaper also reached out to Ross Memorial Hospital for comment.

Ryan Young, communications and public affairs officer at RMH, said the hospital is “committed to providing safe, high-quality care for every patient who comes through our doors. We are incredibly grateful for the dedication of our nurses, physicians, and healthcare teams, who continue to provide exceptional care in an increasingly complex healthcare environment.”

Young noted that, “Like hospitals across Ontario, RMH experiences periods of increased patient demand and clinical complexity. The hospital has established specific processes that support flexibility in staffing and patient flow to maintain safe care during these time periods. Patient assignments are based on clinical needs, patient acuity, and available resources, and are continually reassessed as circumstances evolve.”

The source who contacted the newspaper said it’s typical that “on a floor of say 7 nurses and 34 patients, every (nurse) would have 5 patients, (and) one (of them) 4.”

“So when surge is forced,” they said, “they would give us another nurse. But now we would just have to take the 6th patient (under the new policy directive) and if we’re short staffed, up to 7 or 8.”

Kawartha Lakes Weekly also reached out to CUPE 1909, the union that represents about 400 workers at RMH, according to its website, from registered practical nurses to food services. However, no one responded before publication time. (The newspaper has also contacted the Ontario Nurses’ Association to expand this story.)

“I doubt the union will be able to reverse (this),” said the source. “We need mandated nursing ratios.”

However, mandated nursing ratios don’t exist in any Ontario hospital. The province has seen multiple attempts to introduce mandated ratios, most recently Bill 19 (2025) and Bill 192 (2024). But neither passed into law. Both bills proposed detailed maximum patient‑to‑nurse ratios, such as one to one for ventilated critical‑care patients, and four to one for inpatient care. But they remain private members’ bills at First Reading and have not been enacted.

Only three provinces in Canada contractually require nurse‑to‑patient ratios: British Columbia, Nova Scotia, and Manitoba.

Young says RMH recognizes that staffing decisions “are important to our staff, physicians, patients, and community.”

“Ross Memorial Hospital remains committed to working collaboratively with our teams and transparently communicating the measures we take to support the safe delivery of care, staff well-being, operational requirements, and responsible stewardship of public resources,” Young said.

This news comes just nine days after local MPP Laurie Scott announced nearly $3.8 million for RMH’s operational needs. According to the media release from Aug. 11, “This investment will support the operations of the Ross Memorial Hospital’s core clinical services so they can better meet patient needs. This includes funding to help keep their emergency department open, support inflationary or other wage pressures, and reduce wait times for diagnostic imaging and surgical procedures, including MRI, CT, stroke, orthopedics and cataracts, so that people can connect to care faster.”