The province’s health authority has issued a Request for Proposals for a plan to standardize the use of agency nurses.

The health care system has made use of nurses employed by private agencies for some time to help fill gaps in rural and remote areas, but the use of agency nurses has expanded in recent years due to staffing shortages—leading to serious questions about the cost to taxpayers and the impact on nurses working in the public system.

Last year it was revealed that more than $36 million was spent on agency nurses over the course of several months in 2022.

NL Health Services says the RFP will ensure consistency across the province when health care professionals are needed.

Vice-president of Human Resources with the health authority, Debbie Molloy says the RFP will result in a list of approved agencies and ensure standard rates for all private health care staff.

NL Health Services says all contracts involving private agencies will be for two years once an approved list of agencies is established, and will only occur once all other employment sources have been exhausted.