Province commits $16M to PCH training, recruitment

More than $16 million in new funding will be invested this year to expand staffing and training in personal care homes (PCHs), aligned with the Manitoba government’s commitment to fulfill all recommendations of the Stevenson Review, Seniors and Long-Term Care Minister Scott Johnston and Health Minister Audrey Gordon announced today.

“Our government will continue to make improvements and staffing investments in the short- and long-term to ensure older Manitobans are supported and receive safe and person-centred services,” said Johnston. “This investment will increase staffing within the personal care home sector provincewide and build on our government’s commitment to implement all of the recommendations set out in the Stevenson Review.”

This new funding will support the:

• recruitment and hiring of more than 350 health-care aides to increase the amount of daily direct care provided to residents;
• addition of 72 new positions for registered nurses and licensed practical nurses combined;
• establishment of medical leads to provide leadership and guidance to PCH medical services and infection prevention and control enhancements; and
• investment of $1.5 million in tuition supports and direct care staff recruitment incentives to help build this workforce.

“Strengthening healthcare is the top priority for our government including the health and well-being of people living in personal care homes,” said Gordon. “We are investing in staffing and training to improve care and building an environment to support better health outcomes and safer lives for older Manitobans.”

This new funding is in addition to more than $15 million announced in April 2022 to improve infection prevention and control in the long-term care sector, add housekeeping and allied health staff, and improve information and communication technology related to patient care and operations.

In April 2022, the province released the final report of the Stevenson Review, an independent external report following a serious COVID-19 outbreak at the Maples Long Term Care Home between Oct. 20, 2020, and Jan. 12, 2021. The government commissioned an external review led by Dr. Lynn Stevenson and accepted all of the report’s 17 recommendations for action, reflecting four themes: resident safety, staffing complements, infectious prevention and control, pandemic preparedness and communication with families and staff.

For more information or to read the Final Report of the Provincial Implementation Plan for the Stevenson Review, visit https://gov.mb.ca/seniors/maples_review.html.

(Province of MB News Release)