NDP health critic Judy Darcy has asked the province to intervene in mass layoffs at a Nanaimo care home. She said the layoffs have been caused by chronic underfunding that could harm frail and vulnerable seniors.
Wexford Creek Care Home staff have been told their last day of employment will be Sept. 30, following the expected closing of a sale on Aug. 15.
Island Health is working with the care home’s potential new owner, Park Place Seniors Living, before it can hand over operational control.
“Will [Health Minister Terry Lake] intervene today to ensure that care for these frail seniors is not disrupted by throwing these dedicated care staff out on the street?” Darcy asked Monday in the legislature.
About 110 staff members received layoff notices on April 1.
Wexford has 110 residential care beds — including about 30 spaces for people with dementia — and 40 assisted-living units. Most of the spaces are paid for by Island Health.
The layoff notice affects Hospital Employees’ Union members, including nurses, housekeeping, maintenance and administration.
“The services are being contracted out because there is insufficient funding from Island Health, insufficient funding from this government,” Darcy said. “We know that continuity of care is absolutely critical for frail seniors, that they form incredibly close bonds with the staff who care for them.”
The facility is owned by the Edmonton-based Good Samaritan Society, which has 29 care facilities in B.C.
Society president Shawn Terlson said in a letter to employees dated April 1 that in its eight years of operation, the Nanaimo care home has not received “any real funding increases.”
Two years ago, the owners said they were forced to terminate staff and hire new employees at reduced pay. Staff later voted to certify as members of HEU.
“Unfortunately, over the past two years, Island Health has not provided us with any significant increase and, despite cutting costs, we have experienced losses that now amount to over $2.6 million, which no charity can sustain,” Terlson said in the letter.
Lake said in the legislature that the ability to contract out was agreed to by both the union and the employer: “The reality is that the service agreement between Good Samaritan and Island Health was the result of an open and competitive process, and Island Health has advised me that it funds the society at an equivalent level to what other health authorities pay Good Samaritan for the same services in other health authorities.”
“We have changed the residential care services manual to ensure that should this type of change occur, the health authority ensures that the quality of care for the clients is maintained, and we work very closely with clients and their families to ensure that that happens.”
All nursing, care services, food services, housekeeping, maintenance, recreation and support administration work at Wexford Creek is to be contracted out as of Oct. 1.
“As a charity, our goal is to further our mission of extending Christian hospitality to those in need or at risk,” Terlson wrote, adding Wexford Creek is the only one of its 29 facilities where the society has been forced to take such measures because of historic chronic underfunding.
On Tuesday, Island Health said it is performing due diligence with the potential new owner, as is the Community Care Facilities Licensing program. The licensing program reports to the medical health officer and is accountable for ensuring compliance with the Community Care and Assisted Living Act.
