Associated Incidents
The Provincial Government has released the first phase of a Health Human Resources Plan, which outlines workforce projections for 21 distinct health care occupations over the next 10 years.
This plan delivers on a key recommendation of Health Accord NL that called for the development of a long-term health human resource plan to help build and sustain a strong health workforce in Newfoundland and Labrador.
The plan provides more than 100 occupation-specific recommendations around three key areas, including:
- A focus on retention by ensuring health care professionals have a positive employee experience, are compensated appropriately, and are supported to work in a sustainable way for the long-term.
- Continued investment in recruitment to ensure a steady flow of health care professionals, such as local and international recruitment campaigns, partnerships with educational institutions, offering competitive compensation packages, and promoting a career in health care.
- Exploring ways to automate non-clinical aspects of some professions to support an improved work-life balance for health professionals, allow greater focus on patient care, and positively transform service delivery approaches.
Work on many of the recommendations is already underway, including investments in technology and innovation for health services, incentives to attract and retain health care professionals, and investments in post-secondary institutions to ensure they are able to train the next generation of health care professionals.
The report can also be used as an opportunity for Newfoundlanders and Labradors to become aware of opportunities to work in health care and plan their careers.
This work has led to the recruitment of more than 1,100 nurses and 140 physicians to work in the province since April 2023 and a reduction in registered nurse and nurse practitioner vacancies from under 700 April 2024 to below 400 in February 2025.
The full report by Deloitte Inc. is available on the Department of Health and Community Services website.
The Department of Health and Community Service is also increasing the number of recruiters and resources at NL Health Services to build on its success in attracting health care professionals to the province. The expanded provincial recruitment and retention office provides a targeted and client-centred approach to recruitment and retention.
Health care professionals interested in learning about the opportunities and incentives to work in Newfoundland and Labrador can find more information at WorkInHealthNL.ca.
Quotes
"Understanding our current environment, the challenges, and opportunities in recruitment and retention of health care workers in our province is vital to developing and building a robust health workforce. This report and our increased investment in recruitment and retention supports builds on recommendations of Health Accord NL and will help us further strengthen and transform health care delivery in Newfoundland and Labrador."
Honourable Krista Lynn Howell
Minister of Health and Community Services
"Health Accord NL laid the foundation for transforming our health-care system, and the Health Human Resource Plan is a critical step in putting that work into action. By planning for the long term, we can build a strong, sustainable workforce to meet the needs of patients today and into the future. Turning these recommendations into action will require ongoing collaboration across the system, and we look forward to working with the provincial government and our partners to move this work forward."
Dr. Pat Parfrey
CEO, NL Health Services