20 Regina health region workers losing their jobs

Twenty people are losing their jobs with the Regina Qu'Appelle Health Region.

Earlier this month, officials from the health region announced they were anticipating job losses, but they were not sure exactly how many people wouldreceive a layoff notice.

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On Tuesday,the Saskatchewan Union of Nurses (SUN)told CBC it would be 20 workers.

According to SUN, the layoffs would likelyinclude:

• 4 registered nurses (RNs)
• 7 registered psychiatric nurses
• 3 licensed practical nurses (LPNs)
• 6 special care aides (SCAs)

It is not yet known when those workers will lose their jobs, but the dates could be different for each worker.

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SUN President Tracy Zambory said she is "very concerned" with these layoffs.

"These short-term budget-driven staffing decisions are not taking into account the needs of the patients they are impacting," Zambory said in an email.

"They are certainly not long-term solutions to the reality of today's growing demands on the health system, especially in mental health. This psychiatric unit was an area of care where registered psychiatric nurses (RPN) and registered nurses (RN) were already working some of the highest rates of overtime in the region and this loss of positions will potentially negatively impact the entire team and the patients that rely on them.

Patient Care won't be affected: RQHR

But the President/CEO of theRegina Qu'Appelle Health Region says patient care will not be affected.

"We're quite comfortable and confident that this is a more efficient and effective staffing model that in the end allowsus to provide the same service as we did before."said Keith Dewar.

Dewar says the laid off nurses could find work in another area of the health region, where staff is required.

"If you can re-align resources and move them from one place to another where people really do need help then I thinkwe have a responsibility to do that." said Dewar.

Dewarsays the health region has an eightper centannual attrition rate and that he expects the laid off employees to have jobopportunities in another unit.