Nurses Union Proposes Revival Plan for Struggling Home Care Program

A recent study by the Manitoba Nurses Union reveals that the province’s home care program is on the brink of collapse, prompting the union to propose a comprehensive revival plan. The report highlights the impact of years of policy changes, underfunding, and inadequate planning that have led to significant challenges in delivering essential services to clients.

Over the past decade, the number of home care clients in Manitoba has surged by 41 percent, while the total nursing hours available increased by a mere 2 percent. This disparity has resulted in nurses expressing moral distress, as they struggle to provide adequate care. Union president Darlene Jackson emphasized the human cost of this crisis, stating, “The clients and the families who are suffering. They are the ones that are bearing the brunt of this with missed visits, late visits.”

The report, which draws on freedom of information data, interviews, and firsthand accounts, suggests several key solutions for the provincial government to consider. It calls for the reinstatement of specialized nursing programs, such as the rapid response teams that were initiated in 2017 but were discontinued during the COVID-19 pandemic. These teams were essential in identifying patients at risk of frequent hospital readmissions.

In addition to reinstating these programs, the report advocates for the establishment of standards and public reporting on wait times and missed visits. It also calls for enhanced mental health and respite support for caregivers, investment in modern scheduling technology, and strict compliance with regulated scopes of practice for care providers.

The document critiques the rollout of the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority‘s new centralized scheduling system, which was implemented earlier this year. The new system led to thousands of unassigned appointments and confusion among both staff and clients. Nurses had previously advocated for a smaller pilot project to evaluate the system before its widespread introduction, but their concerns were disregarded.

In April, the union publicly raised alarms about the negative effects of the new scheduling system on patient health and well-being. By September, Health Minister Uzoma Asagwara acknowledged the system’s failures and announced plans to revert to the previous scheduling method, stating that 32 scheduling clerks would be hired to assist with this transition. Despite these assurances, Jackson noted that little has changed since the announcement, claiming that nursing coordinators still have minimal input into client care.

Asagwara’s office reported that efforts have been made to improve scheduling predictability and reduce cancelled visits, noting a 43 percent reduction in cancellations from July to September. The province is also reportedly increasing staffing levels in home care, with ongoing training for health-care aides and active recruitment of nurses.

The push for home care expansion in the 1990s aimed to alleviate the demand for acute care beds by enabling aging Manitobans to remain in their homes. Jackson pointed out that while the initiative was commendable, the necessary resources and funding have failed to keep pace with the increasing demand.

Progressive Conservative health critic Kathleen Cook described the union’s report as “a call to action.” She stated that her office has been inundated with complaints from home care clients and their families regarding missed appointments and inconsistent care.

As discussions around the future of home care continue, the Manitoba Nurses Union’s report serves as a crucial reminder of the pressing need for effective solutions to address the challenges facing this essential service.