Nova Scotia government seeks to privatize home care services

News Release - for immediate release

(Halifax, November 13/14) Recently, the Minister of Health and Wellness, Leo Glavine, stated the Liberal government’s intentions to introduce for-profit homecare in Nova Scotia to compete with the notfor-profit service offered by the Victorian Order of Nurses (VON).

“Nurses provide an extremely high level of care in the home, a level that was only possible in hospital settings in the past. The NSNU believes that this care should be based on the needs of Nova Scotians and should not be threatened by the drive to produce profits and protect shareholders.”

Currently, there are 760 people on the waitlist for homecare in the province, in addition to the thousands already being served. The VON is the only publicly-funded source of homecare nursing in the province. They serve thousands of Nova Scotians with medical needs, many requiring daily health care services. Registered and Licensed Practical Nurses employed by VON are represented by the Nova Scotia Nurses’ Union.

“The NSNU is opposed to any legislation that negatively affects our members and the patients they serve. The waitlist is growing because we do not have enough staff, and nurses are working large amounts of overtime because there is no relief. We don’t need to introduce more insecurity to the VON and exacerbate this problem.”

The government has suggested changes to the service may take effect as early as spring 2015. Before then, the NSNU plans to meet with representatives from the Department of Health and Wellness as well as representatives from the VON.

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The NSNU represents over 6700 Registered Nurses, Nurse Practitioners and Licensed Practical Nurses working in hospitals, long term care facilities, and community care (VON and Canadian Blood Services). NSNU represents nurses in acute care setting in all 9 District Health Authorities including the IWK and the following hospitals located in the Capital District Health Authority: Dartmouth General, Hants Community, Cobequid Community Health Centre, Eastern Shore Memorial, Twin Oaks, Musquodoboit Valley Hospital. The NSNU represents nurses in the vast majority of long term care facilities throughout the province. The NSNU is a member organization of the Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions which represents over 156,000 nurses and student nurses across Canada.

Contact:

Janet Hazelton, President of the Nova Scotia Nurses’ Union

(Mobile 902-456-2084)

Coleen Logan, Communications Officer

(Bus. 902-468-0286, mobile 902-430-6169)