Crowding of emergency rooms and closing ERs are a sign of a failing medical system. That according to the President of the Newfoundland and Labrador Nurses’ Union.

With so many without a family doctor in the province, many are ending up in emergency rooms leading to overcrowded and long wait times. Added to that, is a number of ER closures due to staff shortages, putting even more strain on healthcare workers in larger centres.

Yvette Coffey says it’s time we get serious about retention and recruitment, as well as giving nurse practitioners a larger role.

She says nurse practitioners should be allowed to open clinics where patients are covered under MCP to lighten the load on emergency rooms.