Lack of healthcare staff throughout Internal Health also affects long-term care homes in Central Okanagan. In an June 17 internal note to all Central Okanagan clinical staff, Clinical Operations Executive Director Danielle Cameron said IH was seeking help staffing local long-term care homes “due to scheduled breaks and vacancies” that would begin the summer months. “To support the stabilization of services when there are critical staff shortages, Clinical Operations Senior Care is looking for volunteers from all clinical professions interested in participating in a complementary call list to support Brookhaven Care Center, Three Links Manor, Cottonwoods Care “Center and David Lloyd Jones,” Cameron said in a statement. “Individuals invited and scheduled to work from this list will be provided with a site orientation (s) and will be assigned work only within the employee’s field of practice.” All of the named care homes except Three Links Manor have experienced fatal COVID-19 cases in the last two years. The memo notes that there are no “financial incentives” for those who come to help, but staff will be “reimbursed at the current interest rate and premiums under the respective Collective Bargaining Agreement for all working hours.” Staff shortages have plagued BC’s healthcare system for years, and the interior has been hit particularly hard lately. Earlier this month, an internal note said the Kelowna General Hospital Medical Oncology Department was operating at 55% of its “projected human resources” by the fall. Personnel issues have also led to frequent closures of Emergency Departments in Clearwater, Merritt, Ashcroft and Grand Forks in recent months. “Care homes in Central Okanagan are under the same pressure we see in all health care these days,” an anonymous Home Health spokesman said in a statement on Friday. “The safety and comfort of people in long-term care is our top priority and we asked staff who are no longer working in nursing homes if they are interested in supporting tenant care this summer.” Interior Health says they are calling the staff as a precaution, knowing that many of the current care staff will be on holiday in the summer. “We support the health and well-being of our employees, recognizing that it is important for our employees to be able to take time off and have time away from work,” said the IH spokesman, adding that they were working to recruit new staff.
