December 12, 2024

RNUNL Calls for Nurse Practitioner Funding Model to Improve Primary Healthcare Access

Thousands of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians are without access to primary healthcare, leaving them with few options. Many line up for hours outside walk-in clinics before they open, only to find all appointments filled within minutes. Those unable to secure care are left with no choice but to turn to overcrowded emergency rooms, where they wait hours and even days for basic treatment. These delays create unsafe and overwhelming conditions for patients and healthcare workers alike, with ERs struggling to meet the needs of an increasingly frustrated public.

“Newfoundlanders and Labradorians deserve better,” said Yvette Coffey, President of the Registered Nurses’ Union Newfoundland & Labrador (RNUNL). “The current system is stretched beyond its limits, and relying solely on physician recruitment to solve this crisis reflects a tunnel vision that has plagued successive governments. It’s time for a new approach that embraces and better utilizes all the tools in our healthcare toolkit.”

At its recent Biennial Convention, RNUNL members passed resolutions calling for a publicly funded Nurse Practitioner (NP) model. The union has written to the Honourable John Hogan, Minister of Health, requesting a meeting to discuss this critical initiative.

“This is a pivotal moment for Minister Hogan,” Coffey emphasized. “He has the opportunity to create a lasting legacy—one that transforms healthcare in Newfoundland and Labrador and serves as a beacon of hope for the rest of the country. By empowering Nurse Practitioners to lead nimble, responsive clinics and work to their full scope, we can improve primary healthcare access and health outcomes for everyone.”

Nurse Practitioners are advanced practice clinicians who diagnose, prescribe, treat, and offer holistic care. RNUNL’s vision focuses on enhancing access through NP-led clinics, particularly in rural and remote areas where primary care is hardest to find. These clinics can ease the burden on emergency rooms while creating sustainable, community-focused healthcare solutions.

“Our vision is not about replacing physicians—it’s about complementing them,” Coffey clarified. “Improving access to primary care means embracing a collaborative approach, where Nurse Practitioners are given the autonomy and funding to lead multidisciplinary teams, create programs tailored to their communities, and deliver care where and when it’s needed most.”

The union urges the government to seize this moment and implement a public funding model for NPs. This initiative would not only address the immediate crisis but also position Newfoundland and Labrador as a leader in innovative healthcare delivery.

“Let us work together to create a healthcare system that meets the needs of all Newfoundlanders and Labradorians,” Coffey concluded. “By embracing new solutions, we can build a better, more accessible future—one that begins here and, like the lighthouses on our shores, shines across the country as a guiding light for improving primary care access.”

-30-

 

About the Registered Nurses’ Union Newfoundland & Labrador:
The Registered Nurses’ Union Newfoundland & Labrador represents more than 5,800 registered nurses and nurse practitioners working in acute care, long-term care, community, education, and research. The Union is committed to advocating for safe, ethical, and high-quality healthcare for all Newfoundlanders and Labradorians.

 Media Contact:
Jonathan Hamel
Director of Communications
Registered Nurses’ Union Newfoundland & Labrador
Phone: (709) 691-6890
Email: jhamel@rnunl.ca