Health Minister Tom Osborne says it was “unacceptable” that nurses were mandated to work overtime to fill the gap left when the travel nurse contract in the western health zone came to an end in February.

Osborne told VOCM Open Line with Paddy Daly the health authority has already admitted that the situation was an oversight, and scheduling wasn’t properly handled.

“With the health authority, it is a really large operation. That was highly unfortunate that (that) oversight did take place” says Osborne. “Proper processes and procedures should be followed to ensure that the proper compliment of staff are put in place at any given facility.”

RNU President Yvette Coffey met with Minister Osborne and the Premier last week to discuss the issue. The Registered Nurses Union wants travel nurse contracts to come to an end, but not without a plan in place.

Canadian Health Labs was paid more than $35 million over a five month period to provide travel nurses to the health care system—resulting in serious questions about government oversight in health care decisions.