Spending on private health-care agencies in Manitoba remains high, with over $56 million spent on agency nurses in the first three quarters of the 2023-24 fiscal year. Prairie Mountain Health Regional Health Authority was the top spender at almost $21 million, followed by the Northern Regional Health Authority. Darlene Jackson, president of the Manitoba Nurses’ Union, expressed concern over the high numbers, stating that the money could be better utilized within the public health system to retain nurses. She noted that the number of agency hours has been increasing annually, with nurses drawn to agency work for reasons beyond better pay, such as greater work-life balance and flexibility in choosing when and where to work.
In addition to the high number of agency hours, overtime hours for nurses in Manitoba are also on the rise, exceeding one million hours this year. Jackson urged the Manitoba government to implement a retention plan to keep nurses in the public system, emphasizing the importance of acting quickly to prevent further losses. Premier Wab Kinew and Health Minister Uzoma Asagwara had previously stated their commitment to personally offering job placements to health-care program graduates, and the government has expressed its intention to change the culture of health care. Shared Health and other health system employers have also pledged to reduce the reliance on agency nurses in the province.
The Manitoba Nurses’ Union president emphasized the need for a comprehensive plan from the government to retain nurses and address the challenges faced by the health-care system. She called for immediate action to prevent the loss of nurses, stressing the importance of developing and implementing an effective retention strategy. The government has been urged to prioritize the retention of nurses and take proactive measures to support and retain the healthcare workforce in Manitoba. Efforts have been made by the government to address the issue, but further steps are needed to ensure the sustainability of the public health system and prevent further reliance on agency nurses.
As the province continues to spend significant amounts on agency nurses, concerns have been raised about the impact on the public health system and the need to retain nurses within the system. The high number of agency hours and overtime hours reflect ongoing challenges faced by nurses in Manitoba and the importance of addressing retention issues. The government has been called upon to focus on developing and implementing a retention plan to support and retain nurses in the public health system, emphasizing the urgency of the situation. Collaborative efforts between health system employers and the government are essential to reduce reliance on agency nurses and ensure the stability of the healthcare workforce in the province.
