Nurses’ Union defends current Home Care Delivery in Nova Scotia

News Release - for immediate release

(Halifax, December 16/14) Today the government announced the procurement of a consultant to examine and make recommendations on service delivery in the home care sector, but the Nova Scotia Nurses’ Unions (NSNU) says they are confident that the findings will show that Nova Scotians already receive quality service that’s affordable and irreplaceable.

According to the announcement, the consultant will help government determine a tender process that could ensure quality and create more consistent, efficient and flexible services. The head of the NSNU says that, while it is important for government to be fiscally responsible, she maintains that there is little to no fat to trim on the home care front without compromising the quality of care.

"NSNU represents the hard working registered nurses and licensed practical nurses who work for VON in the home care sector. These nurses are working province-wide and as close to the line as they can now. I am certain that government will see that there is no substitute for the quality of care they provide," said Janet Hazelton, president of the Nurses’ Union.

Hazelton says that while it’s always important to work collaboratively and efficiently to maximize service benefits for those requiring home care, this kind of jargon usually results in privatization of services – a short-sighted and unsubstantiated solution in her estimation.

“I am hopeful that this consultative process will include many conversations with frontline workers who can offer first hand remedies and testimony supporting their value to the health care system. Any change to the care model will be disruptive to patients and unwarranted in my view.”

She is hopeful that the government and the consultant will see that the system does not require private sector interference or a change in service providers.

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The NSNU represents over 6700 Registered Nurses, Licensed Practical Nurses and Nurse Practitioners 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 plus the IWK with the following hospitals being 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 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 NSNU (Mobile 902-456-2084)

Coleen Logan, Communications Officer (Bus. 468-0286, mobile 902-430-6169)