Health and Community Services
April 2, 2014
Providing Accessible Health Care for Families and Communities
Budget 2014 Includes New Nursing Positions and Continued Bursaries
Nurses are an integral part of the health care system and play an important role in providing accessible health care services to Newfoundlanders and Labradorians. The Provincial Government recognizes that vital contribution and through Budget 2014, Shared Prosperity, Fair Society, Balanced Outlook is adding 24 new nursing positions to the health care system and allocating $1.4 million for bursaries and incentives.
“Our government knows that nurses are important members of the health professionals team in hospitals, health centres and communities throughout this province. That’s why 32 per cent of the total number of new health and community services positions added in Budget 2014 are nursing positions. This represents an investment of approximately $1.5 million. We are also continuing our commitment to recruit and retain nurses throughout Newfoundland and Labrador with an investment of over $1.4 million in various nursing incentives, including signing bonuses, grants and scholarships."
- The Honourable Susan Sullivan, Minister of Health and Community Services
Through Budget 2014, the Provincial Government added 14 new Registered Nurses, nine new Licensed Practical Nurses and one new Nurse Practitioner in the following areas:
- Dialysis units at St. Clare’s Mercy Hospital in St. John’s and Sir Thomas Roddick Hospital in Stephenville;
- A second, 18-bed, Alternate Level of Care unit at Western Memorial Regional Hospital in Corner Brook;
- Central intake clinics at St. Clare’s Mercy Hospital and Health Sciences Centre in St. John’s to address hip and knee replacement surgery wait times;
- Emergency departments at the Health Science Centre in St. John’s and the Central Regional Newfoundland Health Centre in Grand Falls-Windsor to address wait times; and,
- A second Methadone Maintenance Team in St. John’s.
“Currently we have 6,340 registered nurses in our province, an increase from previous years, and 2,421 licensed practical nurses. This means Newfoundland and Labrador has more registered nurses, licensed practical nurses and nurse practitioners per population than the Canadian average. We recognize the significant contribution all our nurses continue to make to health care in our province and through Budget 2014 we continue our support.”
- Minister Sullivan
The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador is committed to supporting important social programs, strong communities and the health and well-being of children, families and seniors.
QUICK FACTS
- Budget 2014 is adding 24 new nursing positions to the health care system.
- Thirty-two per cent of the total number of new health and community services positions added in Budget 2014 are nursing positions.
- Budget 2014 contains an investment of over $1.4 million in various nursing incentives, including signing bonuses, grants and scholarships.
- In Newfoundland and Labrador, there are currently 6,340 registered nurses, an increase from previous years, and 2,421 licensed practical nurses.
- This province has more registered nurses, licensed practical nurses and nurse practitioners per population than the Canadian average.
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Media contact:Jennifer Tulk
Director of Communications
Department of Health and Community Services
709-729-1377, 728-4104
JenniferTulk@gov.nl.ca
2014 04 02 11:50 a.m.