Staff shortages at northwestern Ontario hospitals is once again at the forefront.
The issue was brought up this week by Kiiwetinoong MPP Sol Mamakwa at Queen’s Park.
He stresses that hospitals in Red Lake and Sioux Lookout are using mostly agency nurses to ensure shifts are covered.
Sol Mamakwa says the nursing complement is 70% agency nurses and 30% staff nurses at the Meno Ya Win Health Centre.
Mamakwa says on-going, unbudgeted nursing costs lead to deeper healthcare crisis.
Health Minister Sylvia Jones says the province is addressing the health care shortage by training more doctors at the Northern Ontario School of Medicine University and two new medical schools in the Toronto area.
She adds the government is also working with the Ontario Nurses Association to get foreign trained nurses licensed.
