NANAIMO/VICTORIA — Island Health is taking action to support the residents of Nanaimo Seniors Village and Selkirk Place in Victoria.
Island Health’s Seniors Health and Primary Care program is aware of concerns about quality of care and staffing levels at Nanaimo Seniors Village and Selkirk Place.
Effective October 12, Island Health, in cooperation with the Hospital Employees’ Union and BC Nurses’ Union, will begin temporarily providing health authority employed care staff to Selkirk Place to support the operator in providing safe, dignified care to the residents.
Similar support has been in place for several weeks at Nanaimo Seniors Village and will remain at that site.
“Our job is to put the health and care of residents in long-term care facilities first and that is what we are doing,” said Adrian Dix, Health Minister. “The Ministry and I strongly support the decision to temporarily have Island Health staff in each of the facilities to stabilize care in the short-term and allow the private company to develop long-term staffing solutions.”
“Providing high quality, safe, dignified care for seniors in long-term care is a priority for Island Health,” said Mark Blandford, Executive Director – Primary Care and Seniors Health and Acting Vice President – Priority Populations and Initiatives. “The provision of Island Health staff support will remain in place for up to 90 days to support the operator in meeting care levels stipulated in the operator’s contract and the Community Care and Assisted Living Act.”
-30-
Media Inquiries:
Island Health
Dominic Abassi
250.668.3098
Ministry of Health
Meribeth Burton
250.952.1887