Saskatchewan is reporting continued progress in its efforts to strengthen the provincial healthcare workforce through the Health Human Resources (HHR) Action Plan. This initiative focuses on recruiting and retaining healthcare professionals, including internationally educated health workers, to address operational shortages across the province.
According to Saskatchewan Government News, several key areas have shown advancement. For instance, as of the report date, 155 international recruits have arrived in Saskatchewan since December 2022. This includes 97 registered nurses, 48 continuing care assistants, and 10 lab assistants. These arrivals are part of ongoing efforts to integrate internationally educated healthcare professionals into the provincial system. The plan has also facilitated 129 new recruits, including 94 registered nurses, 24 continuing care assistants, and 11 lab assistants, who are currently participating in language and clinical competency assessments.
The Saskatchewan Government News also indicated that a total of 258 graduates from the Saskatchewan Polytechnic Re-entry program have been hired into permanent full-time positions. Additionally, 178 new graduate nurses have been hired and are participating in training programs designed to support their transition into practice.
Efforts to recruit from other provinces have also been noted, with 400 new full-time and part-time positions created for healthcare professionals since last year. Furthermore, the provincial government reported that 18 nurse practitioners have been recruited since December 2022. The HHR Action Plan was initially launched in September 2022 to address staffing needs in the healthcare sector.
The government also stated that 29 international healthcare workers have completed their clinical pathway and have been hired into permanent full-time positions as registered nurses or continuing care assistants. These individuals are now actively contributing to the healthcare system. The ongoing recruitment and retention strategies aim to ensure adequate staffing levels within Saskatchewan's healthcare facilities.
Source: Saskatchewan Government News