Fuey was answering questions about plans to replace St. Clare’s in St. John’s, which is 100 years old. The news surprised many and led to questions about the priority of recruiting and retaining health professionals in acute, critical and long-term care. Fuey says building a new facility and hiring more staff are going hand in hand. “We do both,” Furey says, noting that it’s no good hiring staff without a facility, and no use building a facility without the right staffing levels. The provincial opposition parties both agree that St. Clare’s Mercy needs an upgrade. But now, in the midst of a health care shortage, is not the time to do so. PC Leader Barry Petten says the province has more pressing needs than replacing the hospital, noting he believes it’s being distracted from other problems. He says the announcement provides little comfort to people in the province. NDP Leader Jim Dinn has a similar mindset. Unless the same effort is made to get more doctors and nurses into health care facilities, Dean wonders, “what good is having more empty beds?” Provincial Health Minister Tom Osborne is hinting at some more targeted health care announcements in the coming days. Minister Osborne was responding to questions from the Leader of the Opposition, Barry Patten, who asked why the Government is building a new hospital when existing emergency rooms continue to be diverted due to lack of staff. He says Immigration Minister Gerry Byrne and Premier Andrew Furey will announce what he calls a “very targeted initiative” this week, followed by another to attract health professionals to the province. NAPE President Jerry Earle welcomes the news, but says a comprehensive recruitment and retention plan is essential. He welcomes the government’s plans to integrate a childcare unit into any new hospital building. He says NAPE has long lobbied for 24/7 health care for children, and language has been included in its collective bargaining agreements. The Registered Nurses Association is pleased to see the government’s plans to replace the hospital but wants nurses to be part of the plan. RNU President Yvette Coffey has welcomed plans to integrate childcare into a new hospital to accommodate healthcare staff working long and unpredictable hours. She says one of the biggest hurdles for workers returning to the workplace after maternity leave is trying to find childcare options. Coffey wants nurses to be an active part of any planning for a new hospital facility. He also warns the government against going with a P3 model. He says P3s cost more and have been plagued with staffing issues, as he says happened at the two new long-term care facilities in central Newfoundland.
