Nurses' union calls for accountability, investigation after shocking AG report

The Registered Nurses' Union of Newfoundland and Labrador is calling for accountability and further investigation, after a shocking auditor general's report found the province's health authority overspent millions on private agency nurses and instances of possible fraud. 

"We would like to see the Office of Procurement investigate what could be fraudulent activity," union president Yvette Coffey said. 

"This is the people of Newfoundland and Labrador's money. This is taxpayer money."

Coffey said she wasn't exactly surprised by what was found in the audit, but was shocked to learn about the lack of oversight and mismanagement of finances.

She said the amount of money spent is "mind blowing."

According to the report, NLHS spent $241 million on agency nurses since 2022, which equals roughly $400,000 for each individual agency nurse. 

That amount of money per agency nurse could have equaled four full-time nurses, Coffey said, adding that there are still almost 400 registered nurse and nurse practitioner vacancies.

"Our members are being nickel and dimed on the ground every day about overtime, premiums [and] about time off," she said. 

Nurses needed

Meanwhile, Coffey said, there is a growing demand for nurses across the province, especially due to the aging population.

She said many people don't have access to primary health care, and that rural areas in particular are strapped for health-care services. 

WATCH | Nurses' union president says members are angry about AG report findings: 

Coffey said the province could have used the money to offer incentives to nurses to work in rural areas or to work in more primary health-care roles. 

"That would be a heck of a lot cheaper than paying $400,000 a year to a private agency nurse," she said.

Additionally, she said the health authority is still opening beds without posting positions, which is a safety issue for staff and patients.

Questionable numbers

In February, NLHS CEO Pat Parfrey said the use of agency nurses is down 42 per cent, but Coffey said she isn't believing it. 

"Every day I'm hearing about more private agency nurses," said Coffey. "We have a Gander Hospital with approximately 30 private agency nurses."

She also said that nurses are being turned away from jobs in the province, who then later become agency nurses and end up working in the units they originally applied for. 

In the meantime, Coffey said there are still more contracts for the auditor general to look into.

"The whole system needs to be investigated. Procurement needs to investigate to see if there was fraudulent activity and people do need to be held to account."

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