FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 1, 2019
NL NDP Leader Alison Coffin calls for more hires in health care
For the NL NDP, fixing staffing shortages and making life better for health care providers and patients is the priority.
ST. JOHN’S – This morning, NL NDP Leader Alison Coffin announced her party’s plan to tackle the health care staffing shortage in the province and ensure that people receive the care and services they need. Staffing levels are not adequate to meet the needs of hospital patients and long-term care residents and the province must fix this immediately.
“We are fortunate to have dedicated health care workers that do their best to deliver quality health care on a daily basis,” said Coffin. “Work overload, forced overtime, working short staffed, denied holiday leave, and staff fatigue are serious issues distressing both health care front-line workers and patients.”
Newfoundland and Labrador has one of the highest rates of relief RNs in the country at 20 per cent. Health authorities are relying on overtime and hiring people on a casual, on-call basis, instead of hiring more full-time, permanent employees. Similar issues impact other front-line workers, including LPNs and PCAs.
“The PCs have promised cuts to health care. This will hurt workers and patients,” said Coffin. “And the Liberal government has known about the understaffing crisis for four years and has done nothing to address it. We can do better, and we must do better.”
Coffin says that proper staffing will help improve health care, make life better for health care providers, and save money. The care of family members in hospitals and long-term care facilities is the top priority for the NL NDP. The health needs of residents of this province can only be met with investment in full-time staffing.
“Every NDP MHA elected to the House of Assembly will fight for more full-time staff and stand up for what matters for you – properly staffed hospitals and care homes – delivering quality health care when and where you need it,” added Coffin.
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For more information, please contact Nina Amrov, Press Secretary: phone (709) 746-7455 or e-mail news@nl.ndp.ca.