Yukon Government and Yukon Hospital Corporation announce Health Human Resources Strategy

Thursday, 14 December 2023 06:30

Representatives from the Yukon Government, Yukon Hospital Corporation, Yukon Medical Association, and Yukon University collaborated to create the new Health Human Resources Strategy (Photo S. Bonell)

New strategy aims to address healthcare professional shortage in the Yukon.

The Government of Yukon and Yukon Hospital Corporation have released a Health Human Resources Strategy to address the shortage of healthcare workers in the territory.

The strategy’s five pillars are to retain the healthcare workers already practising in the territory, recruit medical professionals to work in the Yukon, plan for long-term workforce planning, innovate new ways of working, and providing educational opportunities for Yukoners going into medical fields.

Yukon Hospital Corporation Jason Bilsky says that he is committed to making changes to benefit Yukon medical professionals and patients alike.

“Our approach includes continuous recruitment marketing initiatives; actively inviting healthcare professionals to join our team through new grad positions, nursing mentorship opportunities and Indigenous workforce initiatives, all while creating pathways for employment or specialization within our hospitals,” said Bilsky.

“We also want to continuously understand what is important to our people. What support is necessary to ensure they are growing, healthy, and passionate about the work they do, so that they stay and strive in the Yukon.”

But not everyone in the Jim Smith Building was impressed with the new strategy. Yukon NDP leader Kate White said to reporters after the media conference that while she’s pleased to see the Yukon Government so optimistic, the strategy provides more questions for her than answers.

“When we talk about retention, and we talk about keeping people around, it’s great that they’re giving recruitment bonuses to new people; but what about the folks who have been on the ground, doing the work for a really long time?” asked White.

“Highlighting the bonus for nurses in hospitals, but what about the cleaners, and what about the lab staff, and what about everybody else who kept the hospital going during the pandemic?”

An emailed response from Cabinet Communications less than an hour after the conference criticized White, claiming that her concerns dismissed, ignored, or failed to acknowledge the Yukon Government’s work to address the healthcare worker shortage.

The email also accuses the NDP leader of ‘playing politics.’