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March 29, 1999
(Health and Community Services)


The following statement was issued today by Joan Marie Aylward, Minister of Health and Community Services. It was also read in the House of Assembly:

Today I am announcing measures to address workload issues for nurses. Time and again, nurses have told us they need additional resources to provide improved patient care and to reduce stress levels in our health system.

In the offer to nurses last fall, government agreed to convert 125 casual nursing positions to permanent nursing positions. Today, I am announcing that a further 75 casual nursing positions will be converted to permanent nursing positions for a total of 200 conversions. In addition, 125 new permanent nursing positions will be created. In total, these 325 new permanent nursing positions represent the largest single increase in permanent nursing positions in our province's history.

By adding 325 to the current permanent nursing workforce, government is increasing the number of permanent nurses by approximately 10 per cent. This will bring the percentage of casual nurses down to approximately 18 per cent of the current workforce. These new positions will benefit both institution and community-based services, enhance the province's ability to retain nurses, reduce stress on nurses and improve patient care.

These new permanent nursing positions will cost government $44 million over the next five years.

Today's announcement demonstrates government's commitment to address nurses' workload issues. Government has heard that 12 hour shifts are more stressful in these challenging times. Government recognizes that nurses themselves decide whether they work 12 hour shifts. The creation of new permanent positions provides the opportunity to study with nurses and the boards, the practice of 12 hour shifts to seek ways to reduce stress and improve working conditions.

We are taking these measures today because health remains this government's number one priority. We demonstrated that recently in the provincial budget when government invested $40 million to pay down hospital board deficits, $21 million for hospital equipment, $15 million additional funding for board budgets, and $1.8 million for new drug therapies. Today's announcement is a further strategic investment of $44 million over the next five years in the health and well-being of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians.

1999 03 29 2:25 p.m.


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