The head of New Brunswick’s Vitalité Health Network defended the organization’s substantial spending on travel nurse contracts, arguing it was necessary to maintain essential services. The decision was made despite the auditor general’s concerns about the high costs, particularly those associated with Canadian Health Labs, a firm with a ‘monopoly’ on bilingual staff.
An audit report by New Brunswick’s auditor general has revealed concerns over the province’s use of travel nurses, highlighting a lack of proper bidding processes, legal reviews, and criminal background checks. The report questions whether the $173 million spent on travel nurses between January 1, 2022, and February 29, 2024, was justified and correlated to COVID-19-related staff vacancies. The francophone Vitalité Health Network was responsible for over $123 million in travel nurse spending but did not provide requested information to the auditor’s office.
