Latest news with #HealthP.E.I.
CBC
02-05-2025
- Health
- CBC
Province needs to restore lost restorative care beds, says retired P.E.I. nurse
Social Sharing Linda McLaughlin says she was shocked when she learned that Charlottetown's Prince Edward Home would no longer be providing restorative care to Islanders. Patients recovering from issues like broken hips or bad cases of the flu can be moved to restorative care units after their initial time in the hospital. "It is very important. It gives them an extra three or four or five weeks to recuperate before they go home," said McLaughlin, who worked as a registered nurse supervisor at Prince Edward Home before retiring about 10 years ago. She said she recently learned that all 12 beds at Prince Edward Home that were intended for that kind of care are no longer serving that purpose. For patients who would benefit from restorative care, that could cause issues, she said. "Either they stay in the hospital longer than they should, or they go home sooner — too soon," the former health care worker said. Prince Edward Home stopped using the beds for restorative care during the pandemic, Health P.E.I. says. Now the space is used for dementia patients. 'A really necessary part of health care' Access to restorative care can get patients out of the hospital faster since it provides them with medical care outside of the hospital setting, McLaughlin pointed out. Restorative care can get people back to their homes sooner. So why does P.E.I. have so few beds? 9 minutes ago Duration 2:16 A retired nurse was shocked recently to learn that restorative care beds at a Charlottetown nursing home had never returned after the COVID-19 pandemic. Linda McLaughlin says that kind of care can be an important step for people wanting to return to their homes after an injury or illness. But as CBC's Connor Lamont reports, Health P.E.I. has no immediate plans to bring them back, due to a competing need. "That's a really necessary part of health care… to have some kind of a solution for these people that can't go home, that aren't ready to go home but don't necessarily need a long-term care bed right now, just need somewhere to recuperate for a few weeks," she said. A lot of seniors on P.E.I. are getting older and require this kind of help, McLaughlin said, adding: "We need restorative care, whether it's here or whether it's a new building on its own." Prince County Hospital in Summerside has a 10-bed restorative care unit, but advocates like McLaughlin would like to see more. Restorative care 'absolutely' provides value: Health P.E.I. While Health P.E.I. doesn't have a near-term plan to put restorative care beds back in Prince Edward Home, it does have a longer-term idea for improving access to restorative care on the Island, said Andrew MacDougall, executive director of community health and seniors care. The provincial health agency is working on developing a community-care model for restorative care that would provide patients with care inside their homes, MacDougall said. Various factors were involved in removing the restorative care beds from Prince Edward Home, but patient outcomes were never in question, MacDougall said. "It certainly wasn't about whether the restorative care service provided benefit or value. It absolutely did," he said. "But when it comes to looking at the need to prepare the system for potential surges… the decision was made to convert those beds and convert the household of Prince Edward Home from restorative care services to dementia care." We need more dementia care services, so we're continuing to build on that. But we need to expand restorative care, and we're going to try and do it in the home setting. Hospital settings can be tough for people with dementia, MacDougall said, adding that there can be more significant adverse implications associated with their hospital stays. In the future, MacDougall said he wants to work on a "win-win" situation for improving access to both dementia and restorative care. "We need more dementia care services, so we're continuing to build on that. But we need to expand restorative care, and we're going to try and do it in the home setting," he said. The details of community-based restorative care are still being worked out, but the goal is to release a plan over the next year, MacDougall said.
CBC
25-04-2025
- Health
- CBC
Lack of French-speaking staff leading to burnout at P.E.I. long-term care home, MLA says
Social Sharing Issues were raised in the P.E.I. Legislature around staffing shortages and patient safety at a provincially operated long-term care home in Charlottetown. Some nurses from Beach Grove Home were looking on Friday as Opposition health critic Gord McNeilly brought up their concerns about vacant bilingual nursing positions. The Liberal MLA said staff told him up to 84 resident-care worker (RCW) shifts go unfilled every month at the home due to a lack of French-speaking workers. "A nurse reached out to me and she said that… she's stressed. She goes home, can't relax. She used to do things like run and cycle and she had to put those on hold," said McNeilly, who represents Charlottetown-West Royalty where the home is located. "This is the dedication of our health-care staff, but we're burning them out… and it was heartbreaking to get that message." P.E.I. Health Minister Mark McLane confirmed that one of two bilingual licensed practical nurse positions at Beach Grove Home is vacant, while five of eight French-speaking RCW positions are unfilled. While he admitted it can be challenging to hire bilingual health workers, McLane said Collège de l'Île has restarted its training program for French-speaking RCWs, and the province is trying to recruit internationally. "At this time, there's actually only one bilingual resident at [Beach Grove Home], so the demands aren't too great," he said. "With New Brunswick being our neighbour, it's tough to compete for bilingual positions." In the legislature, the health minister pointed to efforts Health P.E.I. is making to recruit more nurses to its system, including grant programs and an expansion of UPEI's nursing program. McLane also said 500 nursing positions across the Island are being made permanent, which he said will help stabilize the workforce. But McNeilly said those efforts do little to help the burned-out staff at Beach Grove Home in the short-term. "We want the French services, but… you're leaving vacant shifts because of this technicality," he said. "It's not a language issue; it's a service issue." McNeilly asked whether McLane would commit to directing Health P.E.I. to hire English-only term roles for one year to complement the home's staff until those permanent positions can be filled. The health minister said he would take that suggestion back to his department. Unsafe shower facilities, says staff Beach Grove staff also wrote to McNeilly with concerns about subpar shower facilities for patients on the facility's Harbour wing. They said the stall's flooring is not designed for a shower, so water leaks out into the common area — conditions that caused injury to one worker, who slipped on the wet floor. The workers wrote that the shower also doesn't have a temperature gauge, which is against provincial policy. McLane said he would visit the home to speak to staff about the issues, adding that there is money in the provincial budget for upgrades.
CBC
11-04-2025
- Business
- CBC
'This is scary': Opposition sounds alarm over forecast that P.E.I. deficit will set a record
Social Sharing Opposition MLAs say they are concerned about Prince Edward Island's newest budget, which includes the largest deficit in the province's history. Rob Lantz's Progressive Conservative government tabled the 2025-26 operating budget on Thursday, projecting a $183.9-million deficit. The previous record deficit was in 2020-2021, the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, when the province recorded a $172.7 million deficit. "This is scary... It is the largest deficit ever recorded in the province of Prince Edward Island, and we're going through some very, very challenging times right now with the unpredictability what's happened south of the border," said Opposition leader Hal Perry. Budget includes some good spending: Liberals The budget was released at a time of growing global instability, including political tensions and trade conflicts, with U.S. president Donald Trump launching a trade war against Canada and many other countries around the world. Perry said there are some good expenditures in the budget, including a $32-million Tariff and Trade Contingency Fund. The fund is designed to help businesses and workers affected by tariffs, support trade relationships, and help Island companies develop new markets beyond the U.S. 1st P.E.I. budget in the Rob Lantz era promises money for tariff action and tax relief 22 hours ago Duration 4:30 He also welcomed some additional spending on health care. The expenditure for Health P.E.I. is set to grow from $971.8 million to nearly $1.1 billion. "There is some that I could give them a pat on the back for," Perry said. "But for the majority of it, I'm concerned about the spending and overspending of this government and their inability to manage and to implement plans that are actually going to benefit Islanders instead of just spending and throwing taxpayer dollars away." He pointed to several things he believes the province shouldn't have spent money on, including a multimillion-dollar sponsorship deal with the National Hockey League aimed at attracting U.S. and Canadian visitors to Prince Edward Island. Perry also said there needs to be less spending on agency nurses, sometimes referred to as travel nurses, to temporarily supplement health services with staff shortages. Greens call budget a 'disappointment' Green Party MLA Peter Bevan-Baker called the budget a "disappointment," saying the province hasn't made wise investments and has been wasteful and inefficient in its spending. Islanders are now seeing the results of that, he added. "We find ourselves at a time of global insecurity and instability, economically, with a very vulnerable economy provincially," Bevan-Baker told reporters. "And I don't think it is an overstatement to say that if you're looking at net debt-to-GDP ratios, which are going to be pushing 40 per cent in the next two or three years, that is a crisis." According to government figures, the province's net debt-to-GDP ratio is projected to be 32.6 per cent for the current budget year and is expected to rise to 35.9 per cent by 2027-28. P.E.I.'s net debt, which is the cumulative amount of money that the province owes, was projected to hit $3 billion at the end of the last fiscal year. With three more projected years of deficit spending, that number is forecasted to climb to $4.2 billion, ain increase of 39 per cent in just three years. Bevan-Baker also questioned the government's decision to introduce a range of tax cuts for corporations, small businesses and Islanders who pay income taxes. "Is that a responsible thing to do at a time where we are going to have to spend money in areas where Islanders are going to need supports, perhaps more than they ever have, that we're going to knowingly and willingly reduce the amount of income that this government is going to get from those areas?" the MLA said. Tax cuts the right way to go, says federation Devin Drover, Atlantic director and general counsel with the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, said the province is responding to what Islanders asked for during pre-budget consultations. "Affordability and high taxes are top of mind for Islanders," he said. "I think we're seeing an honest effort by the provincial government right now to address affordability by cutting taxes." Finance Minister Jill Burridge said the range of tax reforms, which includes raising the small business tax threshold by $100,000 to $600,000, will save Island businesses $9.3 million. P.E.I. has two types of tax rates for businesses: the small business tax, which is one of the lowest small business tax rates in Canada at 1 per cent, and the corporate tax rate. "Now businesses within the province can earn an extra $100,000 before they get jumped up to that much higher corporate tax rate," Drover said. The budget also includes lowering the corporate income tax rate by 1 per cent to 15 per cent. On the personal income tax side, the basic personal exemption is immediately rising to $14,650 for 2025, and to $15,000 in January of 2026. All five tax brackets will also increase by 1.8 per cent next year. "It's essentially just more income that Islanders won't have to pay tax on, or as they earn more, lower taxes across the board, said Drover. "So, you know, I think these changes are a positive first step to help families who are feeling the pinch from inflation and rising living costs." But he said the record deficit remains a major issue. "Spending is up nearly $300 million from last year. And if you look at interest payments in the province, it's about $169 million every year. That's about $947 per Islander just going to interest payments," he said.
Yahoo
03-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Home-care program thought to be $5.6M over budget highlights P.E.I. union's privatization fears
The P.E.I. Union of Public Sector Employees is raising concerns about a home-care program that it says is an example of health-care privatization — and seems to be millions of dollars over budget. It's called the Self-Managed Care Program. According to a Health P.E.I. client handbook obtained by UPSE, it's designed to provide funding for support at home for seniors and other people with serious health issues who might otherwise be going into long-term care. That raises a red flag with UPSE executive director Jason Rendell. "I think that's a prime example of privatization," he told CBC News. "This was an existing public service that was offered through the home-care support program ... In addition to that, the individuals that actually work underneath home care, which [are] our members, are being advised that they ... can't work for these private entities, therefore taking our work away." Finding out about the program is challenging too, he said. "There's nothing on the website," he said. "The biggest concern, basically, would be the quality of care that people are getting... We just feel that the service should be provided through the public [system], where again, I said before, there's accountability, transparency and trained, quality care." In a statement to CBC News, Health P.E.I. said it is 'increasing its investment in staffing for home care.' (Sheehan Desjardins/CBC News) In a statement to CBC News, Health P.E.I. said the program is a pilot meant to "complement the suite of programs helping Islanders who are eligible for long-term care stay in their home as long as possible." The agency said seniors and other people with serious health issues can get money for respite and personal care from relatives not living at the same address, from friends or from private-hire care supports. "It also allows clients to decide for themselves the nature and timing of care that suits them — even in the evenings and overnight hours when home care isn't available," said the statement. There just appears that there's a trend moving toward privatization — and it's concerning for unions as a whole. — Jason Rendell In January 2025, the union filed a freedom of information request with Health P.E.I. seeking information about the program. The information provided by Health P.E.I. says the "forecasted spending for the Self-Managed Care Program for the [fiscal year] 2024- 2025 is $350,000." However, another document with information taken from Health P.E.I.'s third-quarter forecast for 2024-2025 says the "forecasted spending for the Self-Managed Care Program and the Long-Term Care at Home Program for the [fiscal year] 2024-2025 is $6,015,941." In an email to CBC News, Health P.E.I. said those numbers are estimates, since the final expenditures will not be available until about mid-April. UPSE points out in its news release that this money could have been used elsewhere. For example, it said, had that money been invested into P.E.I.'s publicly funded home-care program, more than 100 full-time, trained home-support workers could have been hired. Home-care programs supported The Island has previously struggled with a shortage of beds in long-term care facilities, both in the government system and in the publicly supported private system. Because of that, seniors have occasionally ended up waiting in hospital beds, which are in short supply too. Health P.E.I. said demand for the pilot project has been very high, and home care is playing an important role in helping to ease the demand for long-term care beds. The highly skilled staff of the Provincial Home Care Program are an important part of the team helping Islanders age at home. The Self-Managed Care Program in no way diminishes or replaces their valuable contribution. — Health P.E.I. "More than a quarter of clients were approved to the Self-Managed Care Program to facilitate hospital discharge, contributing to improved system access and flow while promoting patient and family-centred care," the statement said. UPSE also supports Island residents being able to age in their homes, if possible. That's not only because it can be better for the health-care system, the union said, but also because it can be more comfortable for the seniors themselves. Where the two organizations differ is on who should be able to deliver that service: Private employees, public ones, or both? "The highly skilled staff of the Provincial Home Care Program are an important part of the team helping Islanders age at home," said Health P.E.I. "The Self-Managed Care Program in no way diminishes or replaces their valuable contribution." But UPSE said it worries that continuing down what it calls a "privatization path" will create a two-tiered health system that only some people can access. "Only thing that we're advocating for would be for individuals to be cared for through the public service," said Rendell. "There just appears that there's a trend moving toward privatization — and it's concerning for unions as a whole."
CBC
03-04-2025
- Health
- CBC
Home-care program thought to be $5.6M over budget highlights P.E.I. union's privatization fears
The P.E.I. Union of Public Sector Employees is raising concerns about a home-care program that it says is an example of health-care privatization — and seems to be millions of dollars over budget. It's called the Self-Managed Care Program. According to a Health P.E.I. client handbook obtained by UPSE, it's designed to provide funding for support at home for seniors and other people with serious health issues who might otherwise be going into long-term care. That raises a red flag with UPSE executive director Jason Rendell. "I think that's a prime example of privatization," he told CBC News. "This was an existing public service that was offered through the home-care support program ... In addition to that, the individuals that actually work underneath home care, which [are] our members, are being advised that they ... can't work for these private entities, therefore taking our work away." Finding out about the program is challenging too, he said. "There's nothing on the website," he said. "The biggest concern, basically, would be the quality of care that people are getting... We just feel that the service should be provided through the public [system], where again, I said before, there's accountability, transparency and trained, quality care." In a statement to CBC News, Health P.E.I. said the program is a pilot meant to "complement the suite of programs helping Islanders who are eligible for long-term care stay in their home as long as possible." The agency said seniors and other people with serious health issues can get money for respite and personal care from relatives not living at the same address, from friends or from private-hire care supports. "It also allows clients to decide for themselves the nature and timing of care that suits them — even in the evenings and overnight hours when home care isn't available," said the statement. There just appears that there's a trend moving toward privatization — and it's concerning for unions as a whole. — Jason Rendell In January 2025, the union filed a freedom of information request with Health P.E.I. seeking information about the program. The information provided by Health P.E.I. says the "forecasted spending for the Self-Managed Care Program for the [fiscal year] 2024- 2025 is $350,000." However, another document with information taken from Health P.E.I.'s third-quarter forecast for 2024-2025 says the "forecasted spending for the Self-Managed Care Program and the Long-Term Care at Home Program for the [fiscal year] 2024-2025 is $6,015,941." In an email to CBC News, Health P.E.I. said those numbers are estimates, since the final expenditures will not be available until about mid-April. UPSE points out in its news release that this money could have been used elsewhere. For example, it said, had that money been invested into P.E.I.'s publicly funded home-care program, more than 100 full-time, trained home-support workers could have been hired. Home-care programs supported The Island has previously struggled with a shortage of beds in long-term care facilities, both in the government system and in the publicly supported private system. Because of that, seniors have occasionally ended up waiting in hospital beds, which are in short supply too. Health P.E.I. said demand for the pilot project has been very high, and home care is playing an important role in helping to ease the demand for long-term care beds. The highly skilled staff of the Provincial Home Care Program are an important part of the team helping Islanders age at home. The Self-Managed Care Program in no way diminishes or replaces their valuable contribution. "More than a quarter of clients were approved to the Self-Managed Care Program to facilitate hospital discharge, contributing to improved system access and flow while promoting patient and family-centred care," the statement said. UPSE also supports Island residents being able to age in their homes, if possible. That's not only because it can be better for the health-care system, the union said, but also because it can be more comfortable for the seniors themselves. Where the two organizations differ is on who should be able to deliver that service: Private employees, public ones, or both? "The highly skilled staff of the Provincial Home Care Program are an important part of the team helping Islanders age at home," said Health P.E.I. "The Self-Managed Care Program in no way diminishes or replaces their valuable contribution." But UPSE said it worries that continuing down what it calls a "privatization path" will create a two-tiered health system that only some people can access. "Only thing that we're advocating for would be for individuals to be cared for through the public service," said Rendell. "There just appears that there's a trend moving toward privatization — and it's concerning for unions as a whole."
