Children's Hospital in London, Ont., to recruit 4 new heart doctors

An all-out effort will be made in 2008 to recruit at least three new children’s heart doctors to London, the head of the city’s hospitals said.

“It is very, very important to me to sustain Children’s Hospital and therefore we are going to devote a lot of time and energy to try and make this happen,” said Cliff Nordal, president of both London Health Sciences Centre and St. Joseph’s Health Care.

Both of London’s children’s heart doctors, Dr. Dion Pepelassis and Dr. Ilan Buffo, have resigned to accept positions at Winnipeg Children’s Hospital at the end of June.

"London needs a minimum of three of the specialists to provide a sustainable service and will try to hire four by the end of 2008, " Nordal said.

“We will be looking as well at international medical graduates that are in training in Canada.”

Nordal called the loss of the two children’s heart specialists “a blip” in an otherwise successful drive to recruit health care professionals to London.

Faced with the closure of hospital beds because of a lack of nurses, London Health Sciences Centre set a target last February to hire 450 new nurses.
To date, the hospital has recruited about 340, allowing it to reopen all of the closed beds.

“We expect by the end of March we will reach our target,” Nordal said.

The closed beds contributed to extended waits for patients in the city’s emergency departments and led to the cancellation of some surgeries.

"Not all the problems will be solved with the beds reopened," Nordal said.

The hospital still has difficulties providing enough beds for acute care because 40 to 70 beds are occupied by people waiting for placement in long-term care facilities or back into the community.

The Ontario government announced it will expand the number of long-term care beds in the London area by 600, but those beds won’t be available until late 2010.

St. Joseph’s Health Care has proposed to the Health Ministry that it opens 50 beds at the Parkwood Hospital site, at least on a temporary basis, to reduce the pressure.

“That has not been approved yet, but we are hopeful that that will be considered as at least an interim step,” Nordal said.

Another challenge that will persist in the face of rising cancer rates is the wait times for cancer scans and therapies.
In the past year, the number of people receiving cancer therapy treatments at LHSC grew by 15 percent.

“It is just a burgeoning amount of care required. It spills over into surgery, it spills over into imaging and as a result those are the areas we are having our greatest wait list challenges.”

“Those will be areas we will try to tackle in the coming year, trying to get down to the provincial average where possible,” Nordal said.

Source: The London Free Press

Related article:

Two children's heart doctors for Winnipeg Regional

Political Action Award 2007 for two Mississauga nurses

Two Mississauga nurses, whose efforts helped bring about an increase in the food allotment for residents of Ontario's seniors' homes, have won an award for their efforts.
They have been friends since attending Credit Valley School of Nursing together more than three decades ago.

When they began speaking to their congregation at St. Christopher parish last April, Curitti and Shaw had no idea of the campaign they'd soon be embarking upon: collecting thousands of signatures on petitions, visiting Queen’s Park, enlisting the assistance of the RNAO and the Dietitians of Canada and, ultimately, changing the policy of the provincial government.

While those advocacy groups had been trying to get the $5.46 daily, per resident, allowance hiked for several years, the homegrown campaign started by the nurses in the run-up to the provincial election struck a chord with the public, and politicians.

In August, Health Minister George Smitherman announced he was allocating $23.1 million to increase the daily "raw food allowance" to $7 per day.
That covers the costs of three meals (with two choices at each one), three snacks and all beverages.
When Shaw and Curitti, who are co-chairs of the family council at Cawthra Gardens long-term care facility, spoke to managers of seniors' homes, they found many were struggling to provide the required nutrition within the budget limitations.

The fact that the allowance is raised will be making a big difference to the quality of life of senior residents.”
Linda Dietrich, regional director for the Dietitians of Canada, told The News the nurses' efforts are very much appreciated.
“I think their work has been significant to help persuade the government to take the action they did.”

Angela Shaw and Julie Curitti will receive the Political Action Award for 2007 from the Registered Nurses Association of Ontario (RNAO), at Queen's Park on January 24th.

Source: The Mississauga News

Calgary Health Region huge deficit due to nearly 1 million hours overtime

The Calgary Health Region will post a sizable deficit this year as staffing shortages leave the medical authority with a massive bill for nearly one million hours in overtime, says the region's chief executive.

Despite earlier predictions of a balanced budget, Jack Davis, CEO of the Calgary Health Region, said the CHR will sink into the red in the '07-'08 fiscal year, due to a larger-than-expected pay hike for nurses and $63 million in overtime costs.

Davis would not reveal the anticipated size of the deficit facing the CHR, the body in charge of Calgary's health system including four hospitals. He said it will be larger than last year's $70-million shortfall, which required a government bailout.

"There's no question we'll have a deficit," Davis said in a year-end interview with the Herald.

"It's definitely going to be harder than last year."

The health authority has faced persistent problems finding enough nursing staff in recent years, which has forced local hospitals to close beds and cancel procedures.

Earlier this month, the Alberta Children's Hospital had to reschedule six surgeries in two weeks because there were not enough critical care nurses.

The CHR has faced ongoing financial pressures, largely because of Calgary's booming population and increasingly expensive medical technology.

The cash-strapped region has posted several deficits in recent years, including a $70-million shortfall last year and a $58-million deficit in 2004-05.

This year, shortages of nurses and other health workers have placed a new strain on the region's budget: overtime costs have climbed from $43.5 million last year to $63 million this year.

CHR is also picking up its share of the tab for a new contract the government signed with the province's registered nurses.

The deal, which makes Alberta's nurses the highest paid in Canada, came in higher than the CHR anticipated, leaving the region with a

$13-million unbudgeted expense.

In the past, when the CHR has run a deficit, the province has announced additional funding to help the health body remain in the black.

It is not yet clear if the government will offer the CHR additional funding to cover the deficit for the 2007-08 budget.

"Regions are required by legislation to balance their books," said Howard May, a spokesman for Alberta Health. "Those running deficits need to have a credible deficit elimination plan in place."

Laurie Blakeman, health critic for the Alberta Liberals, said the CHR could save money by hiring more nurses full time, rather than paying them time-and-a-half or double-time to work when they have a day off.

"It's penny wise and pound foolish, and we're paying the price for it," she said.

Davis said the region is already working to address the large number of part-time nurses at city hospitals and is discussing the issue with unions.

"In terms of part-time and full-time, we'll have to work with unions on something that works for everyone," said Davis.

The United Nurses of Alberta says this province has more part-time nursing jobs than any other Canadian jurisdiction.

Read the rest of the story here

Saskatchewan Union of Nurses might go on strike

In Saskatchewan, angry union leaders were assessing their options Thursday, a day after the provincial government proposed sweeping changes to labour law, including new essential services legislation.

It appears health care workers could be the first on the battles lines early in 2008 in the fight against the legislation.

Major contracts affecting health care workers, including the Saskatchewan Union of Nurses (SUN) which represents more than 7,000 registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses, are slated to expire March 31.

Union leaders said Thursday they are not pleased by the essential services legislation.

While no one talked specifically about going on strike in defiance of essential services legislation, similar actions have happened in the past, such as in 1999 when SUN continued on strike in defiance of back-to-work legislation introduced by the NDP government in power at the time.

Read the full article here

Aggressive nurses recruiting program in Alberta

Alberta plans to fast-track international recruits, launch an aggressive cross-Canada campaign to lure back locally trained nurses and retrain those who have left the profession in an effort to deal with a province-wide nursing shortage.

In the last six months, the province's College and Association of Registered Nurses has received more than 1,000 applications from international nurses. While an experienced nurse from an English-speaking country can be assessed and start working within four to six months, others with language and education barriers can wait more than a year to gain the proper credentials.

Alberta's health department has given the college $500,000 to hire more staff to deal with the applications and help speed that up, Health Minister Dave Hancock said.

Starting in January, provincial officials will travel to other provinces hoping to entice locally trained nurses back to Alberta.

The Star Phoenix

Health Committee Nova Scotia: "government tries to create crisis"

A recently organized citizens’ health committee in Nova Scotia, feels the government is trying to create a crisis to push for privatization by closing hospital emergency departments.

Judy Davis, spokeswoman for the North Shore Citizens’ Health Committee, said the provincial government has been creating a sense of crisis in the health care system for years, and the emergency department closures scheduled at Lillian Fraser Memorial Hospital in Tatamagouche this week is one of its methods.

“Why is the ER closing again?” asked Davis. “Despite bringing a new doctor to the area, the provincial government is failing to solve the problems.”

Health Minister Chris D’Entremont said he would much rather see committees created to look at solutions to heath care issues working through district health authorities and the Department of Health, who are well aware of issues affecting the health-care system.

“I think it is preposterous to see that kind of misunderstanding of the health- care system and exactly what happens in it,” said D’Entremont about the committee’s allegations.
“ER closures are something we’re living with. It is something that is going to happen from time to time.
“It’s an issue that is happening all across Canada not just here. But to see them try to attach it to the issue of private health care, or what have you, it is absolutely preposterous."

The minister said the department has been grappling with human health resource issues for a while and solutions are very slow in coming as people train to fill vacant positions.

“A couple locums have been located and will be in place at Lillian Fraser Memorial Hospital as of January so that will mitigate any closures that will happen there for a while,” said D’Entremont.
Davis feels one of the solutions to improve health care in Tatamagouche would be to bring a nurse practitioner to the area.

In the new year, working to establish a nurse practitioner in the community, along with keeping the emergency department at the rural hospital open, are top priorities for the local committee, organized by the Nova Scotia Citizens’ Health Care Network.

Truro Daily News

Manitoba college closes applications for Registered Nurse program

At Manitoba's Red River College, the waiting list for nurses who want to upgrade their skills has become so long that the school is no longer accepting new applications from them.

The college has sent out letters to Licensed Practical Nurse applicants indicating it had suspended accepting applications from LPNs to the accelerated RN program, which takes about two years.

Some nurses have already been on the waiting list for over 5 years.

Twenty-five LPNs are on the waiting list for the college's accelerated RN program, so no more will be allowed to apply, at least for now, said Louise Gordon, spokeswoman for nursing programs at the college.

"It's simply because we don't believe it's fair to have people wait for that long," she said, noting the waiting list is about five years long.

Goverment promises 100 more places

As reported on Monday, some Manitoba LPNs, frustrated by the wait, are opting to upgrade at Northland College in Minnesota, despite obstacles including higher cost, certification exams and a requirement to attend classes in the U.S. about two days a week.

Health Minister Theresa Oswald said the NDP has committed to opening 100 new spaces for students of nursing.

"We're, on one level, quite delighted that there are lots of people that want to be nurses in Manitoba. It's, on one level, a good problem to have, rather than clamouring for human resources," she said.

"But certainly we know that for every particular program that we created quite recently at Red River, for LPNs to upgrade to RNs, that there is a waiting list that is not satisfactory to people."

However, where those spots will open and for which nursing programs has yet to be determined.

CBC News

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Nurses in Manitoba moving south to improve skills

Nurses in Manitoba moving south to improve skills

A group of nurses in Manitoba is heading south of the border next month to upgrade their skills — something they say they'd have to wait years to do here at home.

The 15 licensed practical nurses are taking courses through Northland College in Minnesota to become registered nurses.

Frances Fleming Lavallee, an LPN for 20 years in Manitoba, said that it could take five to eight years to get into a similar upgrade program at Red River College in Winnipeg.

"It's sad, because Minnesota's saying, 'Yeah, we value what you've done and we value what your experience is, and we want you to come down here,' and that's not what I feel in Manitoba at all," she said.

Another LPN, Anita Peters agreed, wondering why Manitoba isn't making it easier for nurses to upgrade.

"With the nursing crisis … you would think that they would either put more classes, more instruction and open more schools of nursing to accommodate the numbers that are banging on their doors to be educated," she said.

"Our population is growing. They're going to need more nurses. Our growing elderly, our geriatric population is exploding. We need to have nurses in place to look after these folks."

Group members said they have already spent hundreds of dollars on tests and visas in anticipation of online and on-site classes at the school next year. The eight-month program, which involves about two days per week on the Thief River Falls campus, will cost each about $10,000.

Before they will be allowed to practice as RNs in Manitoba, the nurses will have to apply as international students and take an exam, Peters said.

Despite the obstacles, more nurses will head south to further their educations if Manitoba doesn't address the shortage of space in nursing programs, warned Maureen Hancharyk, president of the Manitoba Nurses Union.

"If something isn't done soon, it'll be, you know, before long hundreds and not just a dozen," she said.

Part of the concern is that those students may opt to remain in the U.S. after they've completed the course.

Christopher Twiss said he hopes to continue working in Manitoba when the course is done, "but if I'm sitting there in Minnesota or wherever, and they're sitting there with $15,000 signing bonus offers and all these things — well, I'm going to think about it."

Hancharyk said she has raised this issue with the health minister, but has not yet heard anything back.

CBC News

Editor:

"Isn't this totally the opposite of what the Provincial Government is trying to accomplish according to the Manitoba's Nursing Strategy?"