Northern Health Looks at Housing Options

Sunday, July 23, 2006 03:59 AM

Northern Health may have to enter into some partnerships with developers, or companies which are driving the economy in the north east of B.C. to provide housing.

CEO Malcolm Maxwell says there have been instances where Northern Health has successfully recruited a candidate for a position, but lost out because the candidate couldn’t find affordable or suitable housing. “We will have to look at a number of options, we don’t wish to take ownership of properties” says Maxwell. (See previous story)

Another option would be to offer subsidized housing for new recruits.

Maxwell suggests the Health Authority may be forced to rent or lease buildings that would provide transitional housing for new employees “We are now looking at the duration of transition and the key is to understand the needs of the employees.”

Housing is one element of the recruitment challenges facing Northern Health. Board Chair Jeff Burghardt says “Recruitment generally remains a challenge, especially for clinical technicians and nursing” says Burghardt. He says the entire province is facing a challenge when it comes to recruiting nurses, although Northern Health’s Malcolm Maxwell says they have 100 more nurses in the region than they did a few years ago, and that is primarily a result of the programs offered through UNBC

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