51 leases between NLHS staff and travel nurses terminated, says health authority

Newfoundland and Labrador Health Services recently faced allegations that staff members were purchasing homes to rent to agency and internationally trained nurses. After a thorough investigation, the health authority decided to terminate 51 leases that were found to be in violation of the Conflict of Interest Act.

In March, Yvette Coffey, president of the Registered Nurses’ Union of Newfoundland and Labrador, brought forward the accusation. An internal review revealed that there were a total of 57 leases between NLHS employees and the health authority, with 17 of those leases belonging to managers. These accommodations were then assigned to internationally-trained or agency nurses.

Debbie Molloy, NLHS human resources vice-president, defended the employees involved, stating that they were unaware of any potential conflict of interest and did not intentionally violate the Act. She emphasized that the employees believed they qualified for an exception due to emergency circumstances and had no malicious intent.

The health authority ultimately decided not to take disciplinary action against the employees involved, with interim CEO Karen Stone stating that there was no evidence to support the claim that managers purchased homes specifically to rent to nurses or agencies. However, there is still a possibility that a conflict of interest occurred, prompting NLHS to request an investigation by the province’s conflict of interest committee.

In light of these events, NLHS is taking steps to prevent future conflicts of interest, including educating leaders and staff members on the importance of adhering to ethical standards. The Auditor General is also conducting a performance audit and will provide recommendations for improvement in the future.

Overall, NLHS is committed to upholding transparency and integrity within the organization, ensuring that all actions align with ethical guidelines and best practices. The health authority remains dedicated to providing quality care to patients while maintaining a culture of accountability and professionalism.