An update is coming on the status of provincial travel teams as members of the Registered Nurses Union gather in Corner Brook for their biennial convention.
Outgoing union president Yvette Coffey says the province committed to establishing a provincial nurse travel team with $6.5 million set aside in this year’s budget.
The concept, introduced by the nurses union as a pilot, has proven effective in helping to fill nursing gaps without having to rely on private agencies according to the RNU.
RNU President Yvette Coffey (VOCM News)
Coffey says they’re presently in negotiations with the provincial government and NLHS after their proposal to establish a team of 25 nurses was accepted by government.
She says staffing nursing positions on the coast of Labrador has reached a critical point.
“We are going to put a focus on Labrador. I don’t know if we even have any permanent staff left at the coastal clinics in Labrador. We’re currently operating them with our travel locums for an extra $25 an hour, and they’re still using some private agency nurses as well.”
