More than 50 nurses at a Burnaby care home for veterans will receive layoff notices today thanks to ongoing financial strife.
The George Derby Centre houses roughly 300 residents, half of whom are veterans, and management is serving layoff notices to 54 registered nurses and licensed practical nurses.
If the centre can’t get an estimated $1 million from the Fraser Health Authority to balance the books, they’ll have to contract out the staff, according to Ricky Kwan, George Derby’s executive director.
“We are still hoping the health authority will be able to get back to us with a better sustainable funding lift. Then we will be able to withdraw from this whole contracting-out initiative,” Kwan said. “Unfortunately, if Fraser Health can’t come up with that option, in another 60 days we will be bringing in a contractor, and we will make sure the changes are smooth, to ensure minimum impact on the residents.”
Meanwhile, family members and loved ones of George Derby residents have expressed concerns about the possibility of contracting out. They have concerns about the ongoing financial problems, the program and staffing cuts they’ve already seen, and the lack of communication about the changes. The centre reduced programs for things like arts activities, bus trips and physical therapy.
Ted Wendland’s father bounced around from care home to hospital before settling at George Derby. Wendland said his father's health has improved since he moved into the Burnaby centre.
“It’s fabulous. It’s added years to his life,” Wendland said. “I credit that to the nurses here. They know every patient; they know their needs. Some like burnt toast, so they get burnt toast every day.”
Wendland is concerned about cuts to nursing staff.
“If that goes, this just becomes another care facility because the veterans aren’t getting the care they were promised,” he said. “For veterans, that was a benefit they were promised for serving their country. If it’s being taken away, they may as well be sitting at home or at Royal Columbian (Hospital). I’m angry. You’ve got people running the place here, and everything is bottom line. It just doesn’t make sense.”
Paul Ballinger, whose 94-year-old father-in-law also lives at George Derby, is head of the centre’s family council.
“They’re saying this is a full-blown financial crisis,” Ballinger said. “The bottom line is money.”
Kwan attributed the decreased revenue, in part, to funding changes with Veterans Affairs Canada. The centre used to receive a chunk of money specifically for veterans, but the federal government switched to a per person, per diem model a few years back. With George Derby’s declining number of veterans and increasing number of civilians, less money is coming into the centre. In addition to that, Fraser Health requires that the centre increase the number of care hours residents receive.
The registered nurses were given two-months notice, and the LPNs have six-months notice before they’re out of work. Kwan said he would be open to rehiring them, but that could mean they come back to work for less pay under a non-unionized contractor.
The B.C. Nurses Union represents the affected staff, and president Gayle Duteil noted the timing coincided with a special week to honour nurses.
“They’re being issued pink slips for National Nursing Week, good lord,” she said. “(Kwan’s) the one treating nurses and the residents like pawns in an absolute and despicable game he’s playing with Fraser Health. I can’t believe the absolute disregard he’s showing to nurses and residents.”
The union presented at Burnaby city council Monday tonight.
Fraser Health is conducting a review of the centre's finances, but according to spokesperson Tasleem Juma, the health authority asked the centre to wait for that to be completed before making any decisions to contract out services.
"We're currently working with George Derby to review their financial situation. Our role is to ensure our clients are receiving appropriate and safe care, and we do this by providing funding and advising direct-care hours that are needed. Over the past five years, our funding has gone up by over $700,000," she said. "Because the review of their financial situation is currently underway, it would be premature for us to respond as to what the next step would be."
