A promotional video by a private nursing care company has become a hot topic on social media. The provincial NDP has criticized what they say is the government's reliance on out-of-province travel nurses.
“Travel nurses were once a one-off tool to fill that gap, but under this exhausted and out-of-touch government, travel nurses have become part of the health system. ” said NDP MLA and health critic Vicki Mowat. he said during question period Tuesday.
A video on social media shows a man throwing money into a rape field with canola saying, “POV: You just finished your $92 an hour contract in Saskatchewan,” and tells nurses that the Spring called for people to apply for “extra loot.”
“The Province of Saskatchewan is hiring for ICU RN positions with wages up to $92 per hour,” the post reads.
Mowat referred to the video and asked Health Minister Everett Hindley if the hourly wage for contract nurses working in Saskatchewan's ICUs could actually reach $92.
In response, Hindley outlined the health plans the government is investing in, but also acknowledged the state's use of contract nurses.
“Yes, like other jurisdictions, we utilize contract nurses. The goal is to reduce reliance on contract nurses and create more permanent full-time jobs in the health care field. , to have Saskatchewan graduates working in our hospitals and long-term care facilities,” he said.
Mowat again referred to the video and asked what message it sends to nurses in Saskatchewan, where “contract nurses are making money and getting burnt out.”
Hindley said contract nurses will not be relied upon by the government or the Saskatchewan Health Authority unless necessary.
“To fill vacancies in case a nurse needs to take time off for vacation or sick time,” he said, noting that in the meantime, the state will continue to invest in its health care plan.
Mowat said the government had simply lost its plan when it came to health care, and privatization was making the situation worse. Instead of spending money on traveling nurses, she said the priority should be training Saskatchewan health-care workers.
“This ad sends exactly the wrong message to the nurses who are still left behind in our province. Let's not forget whose cash is coming out of the money gun of Saskatchewan's tax dollars.” ” she said.
Mowat said the contract nursing agency has cashed out more than $6 million since 2019. Earlier this year, 49 emergency room nurses at St Paul's Hospital wrote to the Minister of Health stating: I was irritated. There is an undeniable sense of resentment towards the concept of agency nursing. ”
“Last month, 49 ER nurses wrote a letter sharing how traveling nurses from out of province are hurting morale in Saskatchewan hospitals,” she said. “SUN (Saskatchewan Nurses Union) says it will spend a record $70 million on travel nurses this year alone.”
Minister Hindley told reporters after the questioning that he had only seen a promotional video earlier in the day.
“It's obviously disappointing because we're talking about a very serious issue in health care, in this case nurse recruitment and retention,” he said.
Mr Hindley reiterated that the government does not want to rely on travel nurses, but feels they are sometimes necessary.
“We are committed to filling vacancies, continuing to expand our health care workforce, and recruiting and retaining our health care workers,” he said.
The government plans to review the campaign.
“We will ask department officials to investigate the source of this issue,” Hindley said.
– With files from Wayne Mantyka
