Latest Travel Nursing Numbers confirm situation getting worse: Petten
For Immediate Release
(April 10, 2024 St. John’s NL): Barry Petten, PC Official Opposition Critic for Health and MHA for Conception Bay South, reiterated his concerns today over the travel nurse fiasco with startling new media reports that indicate more then double the previously reported amount has been spent by the Furey Liberals.
Petten was responding to an NTV news story that quoted Access to information documents which have shed new light on the extent of the fiasco.
“Rather then the originally reported $35.6 million cost, we now learn another $40.1 million was spent which pushes the total to over $80 million last year from April to December 2023 yet we still have 715 nursing vacancies.
It is simply inconceivable. Tens of millions of tax payers dollars is pouring out of the province while our local nursing staff are still waiting for payments owed under the collective agreement. No wonder nurses feel undervalued and disrespected.
Petten asked “Why are the Furey Liberals shocked that we have over 700 vacancies when travel nurses, working alongside local nurses, are making six times what their co- workers are. What could be more demoralizing then watching someone next to you make $300 an hour while you are “nickeled and dimed.”
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Ashley Jackson-Politi
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