The Newfoundland and Labrador government has selected Deloitte to conduct a comprehensive review of nursing staffing at six health facilities across the province as part of efforts to address workload concerns raised by the nurses’ union.
The Department of Health and Community Services announced Tuesday that the consulting firm emerged as the preferred proponent through a competitive bidding process to examine staffing levels for nurse practitioners, registered nurses, licensed practical nurses and personal care attendants.
The review will analyze client needs, staffing patterns and organizational factors affecting workload at Community Health Mount Pearl Square, Placentia Health Centre including Lions Manor, Western Long-Term Care Home, Labrador South Health Centre, James Paton Memorial Regional Health Centre, and two units at the Health Sciences Centre.
Government fulfills union commitment
The staffing review represents a commitment the government made to the Registered Nurses’ Union of Newfoundland and Labrador amid ongoing concerns about workplace conditions and staffing shortages in the health system.
“The core staffing review fulfills a promise made to our dedicated nurses to review the factors that impact their workload. We look forward to receiving the report so we can continue to improve the working conditions for our health care providers,” said Health Minister Krista Lynn Howell.
The study, which will begin this summer and conclude next year, aligns with recommendations from Health Accord NL focused on building a sustainable health workforce in the province.
Comprehensive analysis planned
Deloitte will provide detailed recommendations to improve staffing levels and care delivery at each of the six locations studied. The company will also create a guide that allows other health facilities to conduct their own staffing evaluations.
The review complements the province’s broader Health Human Resources Plan, which aims to ensure adequate staffing while improving work-life balance for health care workers.
“This review is an important opportunity to better understand the staffing needs of our health system and respond in a way that supports our patients, residents, and health-care teams,” said Cassie Chisholm, vice-president of transformation for health systems at NL Health Services.
Recent recruitment gains
The province has seen some success in recent recruitment efforts, with more than 1,100 nurses and 140 physicians joining the health system since April 2023. The government also reports a 46.9 per cent reduction in expensive agency nursing services since February 2024.
However, nursing workload and staffing levels remain persistent challenges across Canada’s health systems, with unions and health care workers calling for comprehensive reviews to address burnout and retention issues.
The review will be conducted in collaboration with NL Health Services and forms part of the government’s response to recommendations from Health Accord NL, a comprehensive review of the province’s health system completed in recent years.
