Canada is facing a “health worker crisis” and is in immediate need of nearly 90,000 nurses, doctors, and other front-line staff, according to a Department of Health memo.
Shortages exist in most medical occupations across the nation, says the document, which was first obtained by Blacklock’s Reporter.
Job vacancies in health occupations saw a year-over-year increase in the second quarter of 2023, making it the only sector with such a rising trend, according to the 2023 memo, which was meant for Health Deputy Minister Dr. Stephen Lucas.
“Nursing in particular struggles with long-term vacancies,” said the memo, which cited surveys conducted by the Mental Health Commission of Canada. The polls showed 40 percent of health-care workers “are burned out” and 50 percent “intend to leave the profession.”
Nursing positions have experienced a steady increase in vacancy rates over the years in particular, both leading up to and during the pandemic. Total health worker vacancies reached 89,995 last year, a figure that has doubled since 2020. This includes 29,655 registered nurses and 13,560 licensed practical nurses.
Despite an increase in the supply of nurses—a rise of 9 percent to 466,014 since 2017—growth is insufficient to meet demand, said the memo.
A department briefing note dated June 19, 2023, forecasted the shortage of health-care workers is expected to worsen, predicting a 16 percent decline in the nursing profession within the next year.
“Canada’s health system is experiencing an unprecedented health workforce crisis,” the note said.
This crisis is attributed to high patient workloads, insufficient resources, mandatory overtime, and concerns for personal safety, which have resulted in high levels of burnout, absences, and turnover.
These challenges have led to emergency room closures and impacted all areas of the health-care system.
A news release stated the funding is meant, “to reduce backlogs, expand access to family health services, and ensure provinces and territories can provide the high quality and timely health care Canadians expect and deserve.”
“The [family doctor] shortage is particularly severe in rural and remote areas of Canada,” the report noted. It added the situation was even worse regarding the number of specialists, but did not provide concrete numbers.
