The BC Nurses Union says staffing concerns at the Ashcroft Hospital show a need for a provincial plan on getting nurses to rural areas.

Speaking on NL Newsday, union president Christine Sorensen says she doesn’t feel the B.C. government has been concerned enough about appropriate staffing.

“We’ve suggested things like regional float lines; nurses based out of Kamloops who can float to these rural communities. Seasonal float lines for areas that have high capacity needs at certain times of the year. And in some health authorities, we’ve proposed signing bonuses, or funding for housing.”

Sorensen says nurses in Ashcroft are equally frustrated about the inability to have the emergency room open 24/7, despite it’s closeness to a major highway and distance from any other hospital. The ER there is open from Fridays at 6 p.m. to Monday at 8 a.m.