Health Minister Tom Osborne says he “can’t wait to get rid of the contracts” for the use of travel nurses in the province.
Government is spending about $35 million on contracts for nurses hired through agencies to fill the gaps in the health care system.
In some cases the so-called travel nurses are being paid substantially more than the nurses they’re working alongside in the health care system.
Health Critic Paul Dinn questioned Minister Osborne about the use of travel nurses in the House of Assembly yesterday.
Osborne says NL is not unique in the use of travel nurses and they’re working toward solutions to ease reliance on them.
He admits the use of travel nurses is creating morale issues among local nurses, but calls them a “necessary evil” because they’re aren’t enough nurses to fill the need. He told the Legislature yesterday he hopes that will change with recruitment efforts in India and other areas.