As the summer months approach, Interior Health officials are looking to avoid staff burnout because of a nursing shortage in Ashcroft.

The ER there has been closed six times this year, and three were this past May.

IHA Executive Director for Clinical Operations David Matear was full of praise for the staff they currently have for picking up as much of the slack as possible.

“Their dedication to the community in providing emergency services through the department have been extremely helpful,” he said. “But of course, that can only help for a period of time. We have to attract new staff into Ashcroft, and we are trying very very hard to do that.”

On that front, Matear says they are trying to recruit nurses to but also using agency nurses and nurses from other IHA facilities when possible.

He told NL they are concerned about the health of the staff they currently have.

“And that’s why we keep a very watchful eye on the number of hours of overtime. And while we appreciate the flexibility and commitment of staff, we really don’t want to see that increasing beyond what is reasonable. Which is the reason why we are specifically looking at agency nurses to cover weekend shifts,” Matear added.

 

Interior Health is looking to hire at least three full times nurses because of recent retirements, resignations, and a maternity leave in Ashcroft.