PRAIRIE NORTH HEALTH REGION AWARDED RETENTION GRANTS

Prairie North Health Region's health employees can look forward to improved workplaces and better work-life balance, thanks to six projects funded by workforce retention grants offered by the provincial government.

The six projects have been approved for a total of $343,278 in grant funding. One of the Prairie North Health Region (PNHR) projects involves providing an exercise room with shower facilities for employees of North Battleford's River Heights Lodge. Another involves establishing a Learning Resource Centre in Battlefords District Care Centre in Battleford.

A third project is for continued education for occupational therapists, physical therapists and therapy assistants across Prairie North Health Region. Another project is for a consultant to investigate workload redesign at Meadow Lake Hospital in Meadow Lake.

At Cut Knife, staff at Cut Knife Health Complex proposed and received approval to proceed with development of a staff library/resource and quiet room to enhance professional development and learning opportunities for rural health providers.

The sixth project in PNHR focuses on mentorship of recent nurse graduates by senior SUN nurses. In addition to transferring clinical expertise to the new nurses, it is anticipated that senior nurses will be retained beyond their anticipated retirement.

Health Minister Don McMorris is announcing today approximately $1.9 million in funding for 37 innovative projects - recommended by health professionals - that will benefit a wide range of workers through out the province. This funding is part of the Health Workforce Employee Retention Program, which supports creative, grassroots initiatives designed to help keep health employees working in Saskatchewan's health care system.

"Keeping and attracting key health providers is a top priority of this government," McMorris said. "I am pleased with the enthusiastic response to our retention grants. The best retention innovations often come from health providers themselves - they know what will work best in their workplaces - and this program makes use of that valuable knowledge."

"Prairie North Health Region is proud of the level of interest from our staff in the retention grant program," Prairie North Health Region Chief Executive Officer David Fan said. "The six proposals approved by the Ministry today truly reflect the creativity and commitment of our frontline employees toward improving their workplace, and their own health and wellness. We respect and thank them for their ideas and initiative."

Projects were initiated by health employees and other providers, employers and provincial health sector organizations. Details on the workforce retention program are posted on the Saskatchewan Ministry of Health website at www.health.gov.sk.ca. This completes the $25 million funding for the retention and recruitment plan previously announced.

The government has identified retention and recruitment of health care workers as a priority. The Saskatchewan Union of Nurses (SUN) and the government of Saskatchewans signed a partnership agreement in 2008 committing to work together to solve Saskatchewan's shortage of registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses. Under the SUN/Government Partnership Agreement, any retention initiatives specific to nursing can be forwarded to the Joint SUN/Health Region Recruitment and Retention Committee for consideration. The government has committed $60 million to support this work.

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For more information, contact:

Karen Hill
Health
Regina
Phone: 306-787-4083

Lidna Lewis
Prairie North Health Region
North Battleford
Phone: 306-446-6625