New Brunswick’s auditor general says the province’s travel nurse contracts signed over a two-year period were riddled with problems and risks. Paul Martin released his report into the matter Tuesday, after promising to look into the contracts back in March . Martin’s audit found that there was a lack of "data-drive decision-making, no vendor-selection processes, and no proper contract development, management or oversight.
" The information you need to know, sent directly to you: Download the CTV News App He also said that Vitalité Health Network did not provide his office with requested information, which is in contravention of the Auditor General Act. Between the two health authorities – Vitalité and Horizon – and the Department of Social Development , the province spent $173 million in travel nurse contracts between Jan. 1, 2022 and Feb.
29, 2024. Vitalité’s CEO has said some hospital beds were on the verge of closing because of lack of staff and that these contracts stopped that from happening. In February, Dr.
France Desrosiers said the health authority was “at a crossroads” by the summer of 2022, with level of care hours per patient at a critical point. “This temporary but necessary measure allowed us to save lives, relieve our staff by reducing team exhaustion and turnover,” she said. At the time, Desrosiers confirmed it will be winter 2026 before Vitalité will be able to completely phase out the need for these contract nurses.
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