The BC Nurses Union says while they are happy the Federal government came out with a new healthcare funding offer for the provinces and territories, they say more still needs to be done to address shortages in the healthcare system.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has offered to increase healthcare transfers to the provinces and territories by $ 17 billion above previous commitments, in addition to another $ 25 billion via one-on-one deals over the next decade.
While BCNU President Aman Grewal says any money being provided towards healthcare is a positive step, she explains there also needs to be a health human resources plan attached to that funding.
“There are so many different topics that need to be addressed –the staffing shortages, how are we going to recruit, retain the nurses better in the system, and we need the mentorship, we need to be graduating more students, we need more seats in the system,” she explained.
“There’s just a multitude of things that need to be improved on because they have been neglected for so long. Money hasn’t been invested there, so that money now needs to be invested in healthcare.”
Of high priority, as Grewal explains, is addressing the “staffing crisis and the healthcare crisis”, particularly nursing shortages.
“There is no fix to the healthcare crisis without fixing nursing shortages,” she said.
“We’ve been plagued with the staffing shortage, we’ve been dealing with the pandemic, opioid crisis, the environmental crises, and it’s about time that health care gets looked at.”
With that being said, Grewal suggests the increased health transfers and bilateral deals, will help improve recruitment retention in the health care system.
Additionally, she explains there must be improvements to the health data collection systems.
“We need to have systems that can speak with one another so that you are collecting that information, as well as the sharing of that information because that seems to be an issue. You’re transferring a patient from one facility to another and yet, you can’t access tests that have already been done in one facility, and then you have to redo tests, etcetera.”
Meanwhile, the federal health minister says the public will have to hold provinces accountable for meeting the goals of the proposed healthcare deal that Ottawa is offering premiers.
Jean-Yves Duclos and Mental Health and Addictions Minister Carolyn Bennett plan to write to the provincial health ministers seeking some clarity on their positions.
The $25-billion, 10-year offer tailored for each province, is set to target major healthcare issues, on condition that they provide a plan, set measurable targets, and report publicly on their progress.
–With files from The Canadian Press
