For Immediate Release
20 April, 2022
NL NDP Health Critic and MHA for Torngat Mountains Lela Evans is concerned over conflicting statements from the Minister of Health, NLMA, and the College of Physicians and Surgeons on doctor shortages in communities across the province. The joint statement from the NLMA and NLCPS outlines ignorance on the part of the government and Evans says government has to stop gas lighting workers if provincial healthcare is to be stabilized, and health outcomes are to be improved for the people of the province.
“This government is being willfully ignorant to the realities of doctors in this province, and destroying the confidence in our healthcare system which means Newfoundlanders and Labradorians are going to pay the price for years to come,” said Evans. “We’re continually told by the Premier that he knows healthcare because he’s worked in it, but to again see another example of how this government just doesn’t get it is troubling and we should all be concerned how else this government has willingly misinformed the people of the province.”
The NL NDP is concerned that the government’s downplaying concerns highlighted by healthcare workers will have a cascading effect damaging the province’s ability to recruit. There are growing reports across the country of healthcare workers leaving their vocation to work in other industries that bring dignity and respect to the workplace, the NL NDP is worried that the provincial government will do irreparable harm to labour relations for healthcare workers.
“It is time this government starts listening to what our healthcare professionals have been saying; listening to their lived experiences working in a system that was already struggling before COVID-19”, said Evans. “We want these workers to have faith in their future, their government and the future and health of this province. Statements of misinformation like this are another reason for healthcare professionals to choose to leave the province, or the profession altogether, as is being seen across the country. This government just doesn’t get it.”
-30-
NDP Caucus Office, Confederation Building, St. John’s, NL A1B 4J6 ˑ 709-729-0270 ˑ
Kommentare