(July 23, 2021) – Paul Dinn, PC Official Opposition Shadow Minister for Health and Community Services and MHA for Topsail Paradise, says government’s continued denial of the nursing crisis is harming families in their time of need.

“Over the past number of months, the Registered Nurses Union and various community stakeholders have raised alarm bells over chronic staffing shortages in healthcare centres across the province.
Unfortunately, government was dismissive, attributing these reports to normal annual leave issues. In the past few days, both Eastern Health’s Chief of Staff and NAPE have confirmed our worst fears,” noted
Dinn.

“Government has closed admissions to long-term care, and Eastern Health’s Chief Doctor says emergency rooms are overflowing with excessing wait times due to the nursing shortage. Both NAPE president Jerry Earle and long-time paramedic advocate Wade Smith have described backlogs in emergency rooms as paramedics are expected to stand in hallways with patients for 12-14 hours significantly impacting response times.”

Dinn says these calls for action are not new and will only get worse if action is not taken now. “It is unbelievable the Liberal government is ignoring the pleas of frontline workers. Sadly, we hear daily reports of patients and families who cannot get timely treatment or simply leave the emergency rooms in frustration. The minister has been aware of the issues for months yet has been in denial,” said Dinn.

“I call on Minister Haggie and Premier Furey to take the advice of so many families and workers who have contacted my office: go to these emergency rooms and see for yourselves how citizens of Newfoundland
and Labrador are suffering every single day.”

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Contacts:

David Maher

Director of Strategic Communications

(cell) 709-725-0984

DavidMaher@gov.nl.ca