PROVING SUCCESSFUL: A new incentive program has filled 29 health care vacancies in the Battlefords area. (File photo/battlefordsNOW)

By Roger White

INITIATIVE PROVES SUCCESSFUL

New program fills health care vacancies in the Battlefords

Dec 13, 2023 | 8:00 AM

The Rural and Remote Recruitment Incentive Program appears to be making progress in recruiting health care workers to Saskatchewan and according to one government official, the Battlefords is one area that has seen huge growth since the program was announced.

In an interview with battlefordsNOW, MLA Jeremy Cockrill announced that 29 positions have been filled in our local hospital since the program was introduced in 2022.

“Our community (the Battlefords) has been one of the most successful in the province in filling these full-time positions through this initiative,” Cockrill announced. “To me, it speaks volumes about the kind of community that we have, that people do want to come and live here.”

The Rural and Remote Recruitment Incentive offered through the provincial government’s Health Human Resource Program, is a one-time package available in the province for up to $50,000 for a three-year return-of-service agreement for eligible health professions.

“Through the initiative, 14 registered nursing positions, five licenced practical nurses and five medical lab technicians have been filled at our local hospitals,” he added. “Filling these positions has been a very important piece in terms of stabilizing the health services we currently now have at our health care facilities.”

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Cockrill reiterated that while the Rural and Remote Recruitment Incentive Program has proven to be successful there are no easy solutions when it comes to the health care crisis.

“We (the provincial government) know that health care recruitment is a challenge, not just locally but across the country and we also know that there is still lots of work to be done,” Cockrill stated. “However, with initiatives such as this, we can start to fill these full-time positions, keep those health professionals here in the Battlefords for the next several years which is a win-win for everyone.”

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roger.white@pattisonmedia.com