SUNRISE HEALTH REGION AWARDED RETENTION GRANTS

Sunrise Health Region's health employees can look forward to improved workplaces, thanks to three project funded by workforce retention grants offered by the provincial government.

The Sunrise Health Region project involves providing all employees with an education program on the effects of harassment and bullying in the workplace. Creating awareness helps contribute to a healthy work environment. Project funding is $166,000.

Health Minister Don McMorris announced 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.

"The region benefits immensely from this funding," Last Mountain-Touchwood MLA Glen Hart said. "It definitely provides better working conditions for the employees in Sunrise, which in turn helps in retaining our valuable health care providers and assist in recruitment."

"We are very pleased to have provincial funding for respectful workplace and interpersonal communication skills development," Sunrise Health Region vice president of Human Resources Christina Denysek said. "The health region tested the workshops at several of our sites and the strong, positive evaluation results prompted union and employee requests to extend the workshops to all employees."

Projects were initiated by health employees and other providers, employers, and provincial health sector organizations. Details on the 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 Saskatchewan 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

Sharon Tropin
Sunrise Health Region
Yorkton
Phone: 306-786-0144