New Funding to Help Recruit, Retain Healthcare Workers in Shelburne

Patients and their families who live in Shelburne will benefit from new tools the community will have to recruit and retain healthcare workers thanks to a new investment from the Government of Nova Scotia.

“The people of Shelburne are already doing so much to help bring more doctors, nurses and other healthcare workers to our communities, but there is still so much more we can do,” said Nolan Young, MLA for Shelburne, who made the announcement on behalf of Michelle Thompson, Minister responsible for the Office of Healthcare Professionals Recruitment. “The support from the Province will help build on their successes to make sure the people who live and work in Shelburne get the healthcare they need.”

The Municipality of Shelburne will use new funding to add virtual facility and community visits for healthcare professionals considering a move to the area. It will also offer digital marketing campaigns and provide community members and local businesses with equity, diversity and inclusion training.

The funding is from the government’s new Office of Healthcare Professionals Recruitment Community Fund. A total of 28 groups across Nova Scotia applied by the December 19 deadline, and more successful applicants will be notified in the coming weeks.

The fund, worth $2 million in total, is among the recruitment and retention initiatives outlined in Action for Health, the Province’s plan to improve healthcare.

Quotes:

“The Municipality of Shelburne is grateful for the financial support being provided by our Province as we continue to diligently work at recruiting and retaining healthcare professionals to our beautiful part of Nova Scotia. These funds will assist us in our endeavour to undertake initiatives that will highlight our community's attributes.”

– Penny Smith, Warden, Municipality of Shelburne

Quick Facts:

• the Municipality of Shelburne will receive $75,000
• organizations across the province could apply for up to $100,000 from the Office of Healthcare Professionals Recruitment Community Fund
• to be eligible, community organizations had to be a registered society, association, non-profit or charity; municipalities and chambers of commerce were also eligible
• two funding streams were available: community identified projects and community readiness supports; groups could request funding from one or both

Additional Resources:

Office of Healthcare Professionals Recruitment Community Fund: https://beta.novascotia.ca/apply-funding-recruit-and-retain-healthcare-professionals-ohpr-community-fund

Action for Health: https://novascotia.ca/actionforhealth/

Mandate letter of the Minister of Health and Wellness and Minister responsible for the Office of Healthcare Professionals Recruitment: https://novascotia.ca/exec_council/letters-2021/ministerial-mandate-letter-2021-DHW.pdf