While government continues its attempts to back nurses into a corner on contract negotiations, our health care system and the nursing shortage continues to worsen,” says Opposition Leader Yvonne Jones.

“Instead of imposing deadlines on wage offers, this government must start realizing that the dispute with the province’s nurses is about more than just money, it is about addressing the significant nursing shortage that exists in our province today,” said Ms. Jones. “As of April, there were over 1000 vacant nursing positions and there certainly appears to be little recognition of the impact this is having on our health care system. Government is withholding the last two quarterly reports on nursing vacancies which leads us to believe the current numbers may be even higher.”

Jones says that she is receiving dozens of letters and calls from people having surgeries cancelled because of a shortage of nurses. A shortage of diabetes nurses is also having an impact on adults who can no longer be prescribed insulin pumps by Eastern Health.  

“Adult diabetes patients who should be receiving insulin pumps are not receiving this treatment from Eastern Health because the provincial government is unable to attract diabetes nurses. Currently, there are 44 adults over the age of 18 who are monitored through the Janeway Hospital. They should be turned over to adult care, but the current service gap means they cannot be cared for in the adult system. Government is doing nothing to address the serious gap in these services.

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