Regina Qu'Appelle Health Region previously announced they were anticipating job losses

Twenty people are losing their jobs with the Regina Qu'Appelle Health Region, according to the Saskatchewan Union of Nurses (SUN).

Earlier this month, officials from the health region announced they were anticipating job losses, but they were not sure exactly how many people would receive a layoff notice.

On Tuesday, SUN told CBC it would be 20 workers. 

According to SUN, the layoffs would likely include:

  • 4 registered nurses (RNs)
  • 7 registered psychiatric nurses
  • 3 licensed practical nurses (LPNs)
  • 6 special care aides (SCAs)

It is not yet known when those workers will lose their jobs, but the dates could be different for each worker.

SUN President Tracy Zambory said she is "very concerned" with these layoffs.

"These short-term budget-driven staffing decisions are not taking into account the needs of the patients they are impacting," Zambory said in an email.

"They are certainly not long-term solutions to the reality of today's growing demands on the health system, especially in mental health. This psychiatric unit was an area of care where registered psychiatric nurses (RPN) and registered nurses (RN) were already working some of the highest rates of overtime in the region and this loss of positions will potentially negatively impact the entire team and the patients that rely on them.

The Regina Qu'Appelle Health Region has not yet responded to CBC's request for comment.

Published: September 28, 2016

Source: CBC Saskatchewan http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/20-regina-health-region-workers-losing-their-jobs-1.3781775