People in Vancouver Island healthcare facilities will benefit from stable, consistent and supportive patient care as support workers and previously contracted out services will return internally as employees of the hospital. ‘Island Health.

The government notes that these services are coming back internally after having been outsourced for nearly 20 years to private companies.

In fall 2021, health authorities served notice under 21 commercial service contracts, initiating a phased approach to repatriation of housekeeping and catering contracts. Island Health is the first authority in British Columbia to make the change.

“To the people who have kept Vancouver Island hospitals clean, long-term care homes safe, and patient nutrition, I say, ‘Welcome!’ Said Premier John Horgan. “Our government is righting the wrongs committed almost 20 years ago to improve wages, working conditions and job security for healthcare workers. It is high time that you were once again treated like the valued members of the team that you are.

According to the province, the movement began when the British Columbia government put Bill 47 (Health Care Law Repeal Act) into force by regulation on July 1, 2019. Bill 47 repealed two existing laws – the Act respecting the improvement of the delivery of health and social services (Bill 29) and the Act respecting partnership agreements in the health sector (bill 94) – which facilitated subcontracting in the health sector and had a significant impact on the workforce.

“We are now putting workers in their place – internally, within our health authorities,” said Adrian Dix, Minister of Health.

“Bill 47 was an important step towards basic equity in public health care in our province. The repatriation of housekeeping and catering contracts is good for patients, for workers, for the care team and for the recruitment of future caregivers. I am proud to see Island Health leading the way and look forward to more workers receiving the pay, working conditions and benefits they deserve to do the vital and life-saving work of keeping British Columbians well cared for. in our facilities.

Harry Bains, Minister of Labor, added that the move will also allow the government to ensure that workers in healthcare facilities receive the pay and job security they deserve.

Workers from six Island Health sites, in housekeeping, food service and mixed service positions, will be brought in, for a total of 235 workers repatriated to the following facilities:

* Saanich Peninsula Hospital

* Queen Alexandra Center for Children’s Health

* Glengarry Hospital

* Aberdeen Hospital

* Gorge Road Hospital

* Long-term care of the Priory (Hiscock and Heritage Woods)

Health officials will continue to repatriate workers under Bill 47 over the next two years, bringing about 4,000 workers back in-house. Other health authorities include Fraser Health, Providence Health Care, Provincial Health Services Authority, and Vancouver Coastal Health.