EDMONTON- 48 Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) employed by CapitalCare in Edmonton will be losing their jobs.
The Alberta Union of Provincial Employees (AUPE) says it's due to a $3 million funding cut by Alberta Health Services (AHS).
AHS says the changes are part of a new funding model for long-term care facilities in our province. AHS launched "Patient Care Based Funding" in April 2012.
"This funding model essentially aligns the funding to the care needs of the clients within the facilities," explained David O'Brien, Senior Vice-President, Primary and Community Care, Alberta Health Services.
CapitalCare will implement the funding model on March 1, 2013. The 48 LPNs will be replaced with healthcare aides.
"(Healthcare aides) are very diligent, hard working front line health care workers, but they don't have the kind of skill set and technical skill set that licensed practical nurses do," said the President of AUPE, Guy Smith.
He's worried this will have a negative impact on patient care.
"When you're talking about front line health care to vulnerable citizens, senior citizens, this is obviously very troubling," explained AUPE President Guy Smith. "It's a shock to the long-term care system. Patients will suffer. Family members of patients should be concerned about this too. It's all based on the new funding model that Alberta Health Services is imposing on the long-term care facilities."
O'Brien maintains patient care will not be affected.
"There will be some slight changes in terms of, perhaps, daily routines and schedules and the individuals on the care teams may change slightly. But, overall the clients are going to continue to receive safe and quality care from Capital Care Group."
O'Brien says the funding model will be phased in over a 3 year period in approximately 37 more long-term care facilities across the province.
CapitalCare employs over 2,700 staff members at 11 care centres in the Edmonton area.
© Global News. A division of Shaw Media Inc., 2013.