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PEIUPSE is looking into federal funding requirements for the new health accord dollars, as well as what can be done to prevent these new initiatives from leading us down the road of privatization of our public services.
Charlottetown (2 Aug. 2017) — The Prince Edward Island Union of Public Sector Employees (PEIUPSE/NUPGE) has heard rumours that the provincial government is looking at options for privatizing homecare services in PEI. Karen Jackson, President of PEIUPSE has asked both Robert Henderson, Minister of Health and Wellness, and the Human Resources Department responsible for Home Care Services to respond to these rumours.
Minister and HR deny privatization being considered
Human Resources informed PEIUPSE that they are unaware of any changes to services. In his reply to President Jackson, the Minister stated that,
“I can assure you that the current function and funding for home care is not being changed. We are working with the federal government on what the requirements will be for their targeted home care funding. It is my understanding that the new health accord dollars (which is above our normal allocation of funding,) must be used on new and innovative initiative(s). Our home care team provides a tremendous service to Islanders. Whatever this new initiative looks like, it will not interfere or overlap with the work that we currently have going on; I anticipate it will be an increase in services and most likely a new way to collaborate or integrate home care with other areas of our continuum of care.”
PEIUPSE working to ensure new initiatives don’t lead to privatization
PEIUPSE will continue to monitor the situation. The union is also looking into the federal funding requirements for the new health accord dollars, as well as what can be done to prevent , these new initiatives from leading us down the road of privatization of our public services.
National home care program the solution
Experience has shown that privatization only adds to problems with home care. Service levels drop. Corporate profits and the added layers of bureaucracy that come with privatization eat up much needed funds.
What's needed is a national home care program to fill in what has become a major gap in our medicare system. As the NUPGE pamphlet, So Good to be Home, explains we have the resources for a national home care program. We just need the political will.