The number of agency nurses hoping to enter the public health care system is so low, health officials are not able to discuss the specifics surrounding the cost of penalties incurred if they break their contract.
Health Minister Tom Osborne and Vice President of Human Resources with NL Health Services, Debbie Molloy spoke with reporters today in response to questions raised by the Registered Nurses Union.
Earlier this week RNU President Yvette Coffey revealed that a nurse currently working with an agency, was prohibited from entering the public system under the terms of his agency contract.
Molloy says that’s standard practice, and actually protects the local system.
“That’s because agencies cannot hire either nurses who work with us within the province, or students who are graduating. So that’s a really important piece,” says Molloy. “So that we can ensure that we’re maintaining the health workforce in the province.”
There is a trade off however.
“Part of that though, is usually in addition to us getting some assurance that people are not getting recruited, agencies also would like some assurance that we are not recruiting their workforce.”