Surrey ICU nurse urges city leaders to back solutions for the severe nursing shortage, calling for housing, child care, and safer workplaces.
Surrey Nurse Urges City to Step Up on Health-Care Staffing
A Surrey ICU nurse who has seen the worst of the health-care crisis firsthand is now calling for city support. Gurmeet Mann, a veteran nurse at Surrey Memorial Hospital and BC Nurses’ Union (BCNU) representative, spoke to Mayor Brenda Locke and council this week with one clear message — nurses can’t do it alone anymore.
“You Have to See It to Believe It”
During the Oct. 20 council-in-committee meeting, Mann described what it’s like working through the severe nursing shortage that continues to grip Surrey’s hospitals.
“It’s hard to explain how bad it is,” she said. “You really have to be there to understand. Some nurses are leaving not because they want to, but because they just can’t handle it anymore.”
She added that short staffing makes it nearly impossible to give patients the care they deserve. “When there aren’t enough nurses, patients wait longer, services get delayed, and everyone feels the strain,” Mann said. “If we had enough nurses, we could cut wait times, prevent burnout, and truly improve care.”
Beyond the Hospital Walls
While health care is a provincial responsibility, Mann believes Surrey can play a big role. She urged city leaders to help make the community a place where nurses can afford to live and raise families.
“Affordable housing and child care are make-or-break issues for nurses,” she said. “If you can’t find child care, you can’t pick up shifts. It’s that simple.”
Although Fraser Health offers limited daycare options, most operate from 9 to 5 — a schedule that doesn’t match nurses’ 24-hour shifts. “We work nights, weekends, and holidays,” Mann explained. “Our child care options need to reflect that.”
A Call for Partnership
Mann asked city officials to become active allies in advocating for nurses. “We’re inviting you to partner with us,” she said. “Help educate residents about what’s really happening in our hospitals and what needs to change.”
Mayor Locke agreed that taking a stand “makes sense.” She acknowledged the city’s ongoing struggle to fill positions, especially with the new hospital on the way. “If we can’t fill the spots at Surrey Memorial now, how will we do it at the new site?” she asked. “Working together is crucial.”
Progress — But More Work Ahead
The BC government has taken steps to attract more health-care workers. Since May 2025, over 1,400 people from the U.S. have applied for jobs in B.C., with 140 already hired, according to the Ministry of Health.
In 2023, a new agreement between the province and the Nurses’ Bargaining Association introduced mandatory nurse-to-patient ratios across hospitals, long-term care homes, and community care settings. Mann said the results have already been positive in Fraser Health.
“When staffing ratios improve, everything improves — safety, retention, patient care,” she said. She pointed to success stories in California and Australia, where similar ratios led to thousands of nurses returning to work and a 31% drop in workplace injuries.
Making Workplaces Safer
Even with progress, safety remains a serious concern. The BC Nurses’ Union recently launched its “Violence. Still Not Part of the Job.” campaign, demanding stronger protections for frontline workers.
BCNU president Adriane Gear said, “Nurses know the problems — and they have the solutions. It’s time we listen.” The campaign outlines ten key violence-prevention measures that could make workplaces safer for nurses across the province.
“Nurses are being assaulted, threatened, and traumatized on the job,” Gear said. “If that continues, there simply won’t be enough of us left to deliver the care patients deserve.”
A Shared Responsibility
For Mann and her colleagues, the message is clear — fixing the health-care system requires community effort. “When nurses feel supported, patients benefit,” she said. “We’re not just asking for help; we’re inviting everyone to be part of the solution.”
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