From today's Vancouver Sun.

Too late for some?

Not sure what the copyright restrictions are on here so I've only quoted the relevant bit.

Cheers, Iain

Election is around the corner :-)

Well yes, but it's something that is a regular bone of contention on these forums and it's good to see it's being thought about. Martin isn't the only one saying such things.

Oh, and the NDP bunch are promising two new national holidays a year.

Which is all good news, non?

Cheers, Iain

That's not news, it's a rehashed promise dusted off for an election campaign.

Here's the problem: although Martin may have his heart in the right place, he (i.e. the Federal Government) has zero authority over the matter. The issue of accreditation and licensure is totally within the jurisdiction of the Provincial Governments. Martin can lobby the Provincial Governments to make changes and offer more money to them in order facilitate his proposals, but he has no power to force any change.

At the Provincial level, both the Government and the licensing authorities (i.e. the professional colleges such as the College of Physicians and Surgeons) have to work together to effect any change.

Bottom line: the Provinces have to be convinced that change must occur, and the Professions have to be on board. If these conditions are met, then change can occur. If Martin were to offer more money to pay for the cost of change (eg. opening up more residency positions) that could encourage change.

Addendum: the Federal Government can't open up even one position in the country's medical schools. Education is within Provincial Government jurisdiction. Opening up more positions is entirely up to the Provinces.

Another problem here is that the Federal Government is only paying around 15 % of the cost of health care. Years ago, they used to pay closer to 50%. The Feds have shifted the bill over to the Provinces, but they still want to call the shots. However, the system can't work that way.

The proposed national holidays have a clause in them, as far as Quebec is concerned anyway !

Hi all,
Also a 1 year study has just been implemented, insofar as Internationally Educated Nurses, as Canada is currently experiencing a nursing shortage.
They are due to research Registered Nurses, Registered Psychiatric Nurses, and Licensed Practical Nurses.
Apparently this is because Canada recognises that immigration is one tatic to supply more nurses, especially in an aging society!
This also follow on from the recent report by Montique Smith, MPP and parliamentary assistant for the ministry of health and long term care, into nursing homes for the elderly. Interestingly enough the report states that 64 per cent of residents admitted for long term care have some form of dementia, or other cognitive impairment, yet there are no educational standards for health care aides and personal support workers!
The anomaly here is that for highly skilled mental health nurses from the u.k. with extensive theoretical and clinical knowledge of both organic and functional illness that affect the elderly, cannot work, even as a care aide or P.S.W. without training to be either. I'm interested to learn how they deal with aggression in these nursing homes, as the reforms suggested is not rocket science! Still all the more ammunition for me. It will not help me personally as I've already been out of nursing for a year, and have to go 'home' for a year to get back into nursing. Having said that if my attempts to lobby whomever, helps, in any way to reinforce the mental health stance, then it's got to be good.
Also piggy backing on this proposed injection of cash for canadian mental health.
Shame they have not included learning disabilities in their study.
I think i'll ask why?
I read somewhere that also Canada is beginning to realise that they are competing with the likes of Australia and New Zealand, as well as other countries.
Is it me or does Canada seem stuck in the '70's?
Regards.

Anecdotal I know, but my missus is in healthcare and we went to one of the recent Emigrate shows in the UK with this in mind - the areas set aside for Australia and New Zealand seemed chocked full of professional and/or government agencies concerned with recruiting overseas healthcare talent. There was not one for Canada.

Cheers, Iain

There is your answer right there ! You've only got to watch the news here each night, to realise how bad things have got, and how bad they need docs and nurses.

Two nights ago, a local doc in a town of 700 had a stroke, and had to retire at age 80 something, all his patients had to be sent to the nearby town, which was a couple of hours drive away.

Also...recent med school grads are hopping across the border for more wonga, to pay off those debts they owe from studying. Its more of a provincial problem than federal

As I've been saying, the Provincial Governments have to want more foreign educated medical professionals. In the '80s and '90s, they reduced hospital beds and laid off thousands of nurses, and closed positions in medical schools so fewer doctors graduated. The more doctors and nurses who are working, the more it costs the Provincial Governments (remember they pay about 85% of the healthcare bill). The Provincial Governments mostly have deficient budgets. So from their perspective, they couldn't really afford to have more healthcare workers. That's why we have today's shortages in healthcare workers. Having Martin offer a few billion dollars in a one-time payment to the Provinces looks like chicken feed to them because making the needed changes will cost them more every year for perpetuity.

The Province most able to make positive changes is Alberta due to its strong financial position. However, its Conservative Government has been reluctant to increase spending over the years. They want the individual to pay more for his own healthcare.

Just came across this – a 21 page fact sheet for Nurses wanting to practice in BC http://www.issbc.org/PDF/Nurses-English.pdf

Clare