Health Minster Tom Osborne says the tens of millions paid for private agency nurses is a concern, but isn’t news.

Osborne says it’s no secret travel nurses are expensive—to the tune of almost $36 million for several months in 2022, versus the previous average of $1 million.

But he does want answers regarding $1.6 million billed for meals reportedly not part of the contract, according to the Globe and Mail.

Osborne also reiterated that travel nurses are a “necessary evil” to keep services from shutting down.

But it’s the extras such as furniture, cable bills paid, and even an air fryer that have many, including the nurses union and Official Opposition, questioning the spending.

Osborne says recruitment continues to be a priority, but the need for agency nurses is undisputable.

“Without it, we would’ve had more closures of emergency departments, more services on diversion,” he said. “So we absolutely, 100 per cent needed agency nursing. The cost is a concern for me. It’s a concern for (NL Health Services CEO) Dave Diamond, it’s a concern for the premier, it’s a concern for every premier and health minister in Canada, and that is what we’re grappling with.”

There have been calls for the auditor general to step in and review the spending on travel nurses.

Osborne says he’ll address that issue once he receives an explanation from NL Health Services on the finer details of the agency nursing contract.