Released on August 4, 1998
Minister of Health Clay Serby today announced that hiring is underwayto fill 77 nursing positions in the Regina Health District. The
District will receive $3.2 million from the province to hire nurses
who will help meet urgent needs and improve quality of health care for
all of the province's residents.
In May, Serby announced that the province would provide $9 million to
fund 200 nursing positions across the province. The funds provided
will be within this year's $1.72 billion health budget.
"By providing these funds we are following through on the promise we
made to the nurses and residents of Saskatchewan," Serby said.
"Today's announcement is part of our continued commitment to
addressing the issue of increased workloads for frontline staff by
placing additional nurses where they are needed most."
"The Regina Health District welcomes the extra funding the provincial
government is providing to help support our efforts to continue to
provide quality care through adequate staffing levels," said Glenn
Bartlett, CEO of the Regina Health District. "This will allow us to
reduce the pressures on our frontline staff and create the needed
stability within our workforce."
"With this initiative steps are being taken to address workload
issues for nurses," said Rosalee Longmoore, President of the
Saskatchewan Union of Nurses (SUN). "Our members look forward to
working with health districts and the government to further
alleviate pressures on front line staff and to ensure that people
continue to receive quality care."
The Regina Health District's plan for the $3.2 million also
includes specialized training for approximately 45 registered
nurses in critical care areas.
Hiring processes are currently underway in 12 health districts
and the Saskatchewan Cancer Agency. It is expected all positions
will be filled by the end of the year.
"Quality front-line care is a priority in this province," Serby
said. "Investing in nurses today is a positive step forward that
will help to further enhance health care delivery in the Regina
Health District, and the health system as a whole, now and into
the future."
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For more information contact:
Jeff Brown
Communications and Public information Branch
Saskatchewan Health
Regina
Phone: (306) 787-4088