Vancouver Coastal spent just $25,000 on such nurses bin 2018-19, but three year later was relying on $6.2 million of services. Fraser Health went from $3 million to $11.8 million, Interior Health from $1 million versus $7.5 million, and Northern Health skyrocketed from $4.6 million to $18.8 million.
Vancouver Island Health Authority said while it had hired agency nurses in the 2018-19 fiscal year, it couldn’t compile the total, but spent a whopping $20 million by 2021-22.
“Total expenditure includes service hours plus reimbursable travel expenses, accommodation expenses, and applicable premiums, etc.,” read a footnote in the health authorities’ responses.
BCNU UNSURPRISED AT FIGURES
Earlier this month, CTV News was first to report that nurses employed by for-profit companies are propping up the health-care system to the extent that half or more of the staff on any given shift can be temp workers who don’t know the ins and outs of the facility they’re working in – and even that may be an underestimate.
“There are units where it’s all agency nurses,” said BC Nurses Union president, Aman Grewal after returning from an engagement tour with members Thursday. “
“Even care aides and (licensed practical nurses) – how dire is the system that every single profession in health care is requiring travel nursing?”
