N.L. promises long-term care bonuses, new Deer Lake facility as it maps record health spending

The Newfoundland and Labrador government will offer bonuses to long-term care workers in an effort to resolve staffing shortages that have left patients stranded in hospitals and separated from loved ones.

At a news conference on Monday, Health Minister Tom Osborne said the incentives are meant to stabilize and build the current workforce.

"These initiatives are needed to recruit and retain staff in long-term care settings, to increase long-term care capacity," he said.

In exchange for a one-year return in service commitment, registered nurses, licensed practical nurses and personal-care assistants already working in long term care can avail of a retention bonus.

The bonus — a maximum of $3,000 depending on the position — will be pro-rated based on hours worked.

The provincial government is also offering a recruitment bonus — a maximum of $8,000 depending on the position — to attract registered nurses, licensed practical nurses and personal-care assistants to work in long-term care, in exchange for a one-year return in service commitment.

The bonuses are in addition to existing incentives, Osborne said. The new provincial health authority will provide details to employees in the coming weeks, according to a government press release.

Osborne said it isn't clear how many people will take advantage of the new incentives but the provincial government isn't setting a cap. 

According to Judy O'Keefe, Eastern Health's vice-president of clinical services, there are "many hundred" job vacancies in long-term care across the province, including about 150 vacant positions at Pleasantview Towers, the setting of Monday's announcement.

"This is a great start. Hopefully this is a way of people finding their place in long-term care and coming to join us and work with us and hopefully staying," she said.

Eastern Health vice-president Debbie Walsh said staff shortages in long-term care has a "cascading effect" leading to congested emergency rooms and cancelled surgeries.

"Our patients are in hospital even though they don't need to be there any longer," she said.

Earlier this year, Osborne announced the provincial government would conduct a six- to eight-month review of long-term and personal care in Newfoundland and Labrador, partly in response to calls from provincial Seniors' Advocate Susan Walsh.

The announcement comes after the release of the 2023 provincial budget, which included a record $3.9 billion in health-care spending.