BC Nurses' Union predicts more nursing shortages

The BC Nurses' Union says reducing surgical wait lists is an important goal but warns there will be more nursing shortages.

BCNU President Gayle Duteil says there is already a serious shortage of specialty educated nurses in operating and recovery rooms and many are set to retire.

"Private clinics are siphoning off nurses and bleeding the public system of one of its most in-demand human resources."

The health ministry is providing $10 million dollars for an additional 1,000 surgeries this summer. If there isn't enough operating room time in publicly funded hospitals, patients will go to private clinics.

Duteil says the government must make better use of existing, taxpayer funded facilities. "We know that BC?s 295 operating rooms often sit empty - especially at night and on weekends - because of a lack of funding. Only 82 percent are regularly staffed. The $10 million should be used to create capacity there first, not to increase profits for private clinics."

Last month, Island Health announced it would send 55,000 surgeries to private clinics over five years.