The Registered Nurses Union says it is encouraged by work being carried out by the provincial government to expand opportunities for nurse practitioners, including the development of a funding model that supports team-based care and improved access for patients.
President Yvette Coffey says there’s more work to do, but she says the path forward is clear.
Ottawa says provincial and territorial health plans are going to start covering the services of nurse practitioners, pharmacists and midwives who provide primary care.
Coffey warns against division within the health care system after the College of Family Physicians of Canada expressed some concern, indicating that family physicians should not be replaced.
She says the college is “right about one thing,” that team-based care works best when every provider can use their full skills and training.
