Health ministers from across the country last week agreed to five key strategies to help address the recruitment and retention of health care workers.
New information released by the Canadian Institute for Health Information shows that unintentional harm to patients rose as a result of hospital staffing challenges during the pandemic.
Overtime and sick time rates across the country rose dramatically in 2021-2022 and that, says program lead for health human resources with CIHI, Kate Parson, led to increased rates of unintentional harm to patients.
That included urinary tract infections and pressure sores, which are prevented by regular attendance by health care workers. She says when staffing levels are down, those types of conditions increase.