As a result of ongoing strategic recruitment efforts by the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador and Newfoundland and Labrador Health Services (NL Health Services), access to primary health care has increased significantly in recent months.
The Honourable Tom Osborne, Minister of Health and Community Services, will be available to discuss recent recruitment results today at Confederation Building, East Block Lobby, at 1:30 p.m. Minister Osborne will be joined by Debbie Molloy, Vice-President of Human Resources at NL Health Services.
More than 40 physicians have agreed to work in Newfoundland and Labrador since the start of the fiscal year (April 1, 2023), including in hard-to-fill areas such as Bonavista, Burin, Carbonear, Clarenville, Grand Falls-Windsor, Fogo Island and Twillingate.
Additionally, during the same period the Department of Health and Community Services and NL Health Services have recruited more than 170 nurses, including licensed practical nurses, registered nurses and nurse practitioners.
While some physicians have begun practicing in the province, others are anticipated to begin practicing later this year. Start dates for each physician range from mid-April to early December. These recruitment efforts will help stabilize health care in communities where positions are difficult to fill.
Budget 2023 included the largest ever investment in health care, with close to $6 million in funding for this signing bonus program. This builds upon significant actions government is taking to address the current challenges facing the health care sector in the province.
Health care professionals interested in learning about the opportunities and incentives to work in Newfoundland and Labrador can find more information at WorkInHealthNL.ca. Residents can stay up-to-date on progress made and see many of the initiatives that are underway through regular Health Care Action updates and the Health Care Action website.
Quotes
“It’s clear that our incentives, such as $150,000 for physicians to join a family care team and $200,000 for physicians to work in hard-to-fill areas, are working. There is still more work to be done, and we encourage all physicians and health care professionals interested in working in Newfoundland and Labrador to get in touch with us to explore all recruitment opportunities and incentives that are available.”
Honourable Tom Osborne
Minister of Health and Community Services
“NL Health Services is pleased with the results of our extensive recruitment efforts to date, and will continue working tirelessly to attract more health care professionals to live and work in Newfoundland and Labrador. In collaboration with the Provincial Government and other partners, we have implemented innovative approaches to recruitment that will help sustain and modernize the delivery of health care services for residents throughout the province.”
Debbie Molloy
Vice President of Human Resources, Newfoundland and Labrador Health Services
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