Statement from PC Health Critic Kathleen Cook on Prairie Mountain Health Agency Nurse Spending
WINNIPEG — Roblin MLA Kathleen Cook, PC Critic for Health, issued the following statement today on the NDP government’s directive to Prairie Mountain Health to cut back spending on nurses:
“The NDP’s announcement today is nothing more than a distraction from their failure to address the ongoing healthcare crisis.
“Freedom of Information documents reveal that agency nurse hours in Prairie Mountain Health have skyrocketed by 25% this year alone, and spending is up by 18% from 2023. The NDP were on track to spend over $25 million on agency nurses in 2024 just in Prairie Mountain Health. This NDP government has allowed this overspending to reach historic levels, and a 15% reduction won’t even cover the full scope of the damage done under their watch.
“Rather than offering vague directives with no support, the NDP need to explain how they plan to reduce the reliance on agency nurses in the first place and make meaningful investments in recruiting and retaining public system nurses. The real question remains: where is the NDP’s credible plan to staff our healthcare system and address the concerns raised by nurses across the province?
“The Manitoba Nurses Union survey says it all—65% of nurses who responded feel that the NDP have not lived up to their promises on healthcare and patient outcomes, and 75% are reconsidering their future in the profession. The NDP’s failure to act has pushed many nurses to the brink, and until they deliver a real solution and improve conditions for frontline nurses, this crisis will only get worse.”
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