Health care model flawed: nurses union

The P.E.I. Nurses' Union says the quality of health care for Islanders will be negatively affected by the province's new model of care.

Nurses' union president Barbara Brookins said at a news conference Monday that the plan seems to involve eliminating vacant registered nurse positions and replacing them with licensed practical nurses who don't cost as much.

In addition, the plan  — which proposes a collaborative care team model — includes the introduction of unregulated health workers called "patient care workers" who will help with feeding and bathing patients, said Bookins.

"They can take one RN position and hire an LPN and a PCW for similar cost. You're going to have a lesser-educated, less-knowledgeable care provider caring for you when you're sick and in the hospital," said Brookings. "And the concerns we have is on the education component of the care providers who are going to be at the bedside."

It appears the role of the RN will become more of a supervisory one, Brookins added.