Spending money on corporate sponsorships while cutting children’s hospital unit

OAKLAND-Registered nurses dressed in red scrubs, parents, and children will be protesting Kaiser Permanente’s elimination of essential patient services Wednesday evening at the Golden State Warriors opening game of the season. The nurses are demanding that Kaiser return to their fundamental mission of delivering quality patient care to the community. Kaiser is one of the major corporate sponsors of the Warriors.

Kaiser has been reducing inpatient hospital services and RN staffing in its hospitals. On Nov.17, Kaiser will be closing all of their inpatient pediatric services serving southern Alameda County. The unit serves over 1,800 families a year, and more than 100,000 children in the tri-city area receive healthcare from the facility.

Additionally RNs and residents of Manteca have recently been protesting the escalating reduction of vital patient services at their Kaiser facility, including maternity, pediatric, cardiology, ultrasound, and radiology, forcing patients to travel to Modesto or Stockton for care.

What:         Nurse in Scrubs Protest Kaiser at Golden State Warriors Game

When:         Wed., Oct. 30, 5:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m.

Where:       Oracle Arena in Oakland

“Kaiser is failing its most vulnerable members, said Deborah Burger, a Kaiser Santa Rosa RN and California Nurses Association co-president.  “We’re calling on Kaiser to provide a single standard of quality care for everyone. We have seen Kaiser delay admissions to the hospital and send patients home prematurely despite nurses’ objections. Kaiser cares more about its public image than it does its patients. Now nurses and the community are standing up to defend safe patient care. “