For immediate release
Official Opposition calls for a Public Inquiry into Travel Nurse Contracts
June 21, 2024 (Fredericton, NB) – This week, the Departments of Health and Social Development, and the Horizon and Vitalité Health authorities appeared before the Public Accounts Committee to report on the travel nurse contracts investigated by the Auditor General. Questioning revealed that the Vitalité Health Authority presented nine recommendations to Higgs on how to avoid using travel nurses, most involving retention efforts for New Brunswick healthcare workers.
“Premier Higgs has had time and opportunity to fix our healthcare crisis, but he has failed to deliver. While all this is happening, the Premier was once again in Alberta instead of answering the tough questions,” said Opposition Leader Susan Holt. “Higgs alone has had ten budgets to do the work and what is there to show for it? $174 million for travel nurses, corporate profits and unprecedented disrespect for New Brunswick nurses.”
Eight of the recommendations presented to the Premier to solve the nursing shortage involved collaboration and investments in public services. The ninth option was to hire private firms to supply contract nurses. Despite the majority of the options being focused on retention efforts for New Brunswick nurses, the Premier chose to invest in private out-of-province firms.
“Instead of putting a plan in place to retain the critical nurses we need, the Higgs government has thrown away more than $174 million taxpayer dollars paid to corporate companies,” said Rob McKee, Liberal Health critic. “Enough is enough. The Higgs government is willing to let our most important services crumble instead of doing the hard work of a good, responsible, creative government. It’s time for change.”
Today, the Official Opposition echoes the call of former health minister, Dorothy Shephard, for a public inquiry into the mismanagement that led to the signing of these private travel nurse contracts and the Premier’s involvement in it.
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Media Contact:
Katie Beers
(506) 230-0206
katie.beers@gnb.ca