Health PEI released a statement Thursday afternoon advising Islanders to avoid the Emergency
Department this weekend due to COVID, when reality is they were always too short staffed.
What the public was not made aware of is that Health PEI is not utilizing their financial resources to staff
appropriately over the long weekend. The Prince Edward Island Nurses’ Union has been advocating for
Registered Nurses to be offered double time to take on additional shifts.
Health PEI has since declined the request to offer double time until they “exhaust all other options”.
Instead, they are contacting staff to come in on their days off without any additional incentive. No
contact with any of these staff members were made until after 3:00pm the day before the Canada Day
long weekend.
“Paying double-time would likely entice a few people to come in and help. There’s experienced
staff who are willing to pick up, but it is not being offered. Give people the respect to plan their
lives.” – QEH ER Nurse.
Nurses are being asked to come in on their valued days off as their commitment to Islanders.
The incremental cost to bring in a nurse for a 12-hour shift at double time is up to $235.
What is the value of our Islanders health care?
The Prince Edward Island Nurses’ Union calls on Health PEI to compensate nurses for going above and
beyond to provide basic emergency health care to Islanders over this holiday weekend.
PEI NURSES’ UNION RESPONSE TO HEALTH PEI HOLIDAY WEEKEND STAFFING