By Joel van der Veen

DAVIDSON — Greg Ottenbreit gave local nurses his undivided attention during a meeting at a Davidson restaurant on Tuesday.

The province’s minister for rural and remote health met with the nurses for an hour and a half to discuss staffing levels at Davidson Health Centre.

Speaking to the Leader, Ottenbreit described the visit as a “very positive meeting with a lot of good information” and said the nurses expressed their position well.

The nurses went public last month with their concerns, saying the centre is understaffed and arguing that the situation is putting patients at risk.

Several nurses visited Davidson town council as a delegation in August, asking for council’s support as they pushed for increased staffing.

Some patients and their families have also spoken out since then, detailing how service disruptions at the centre resulted in them being sent home or transferred to other facilities.

The nurses had written letters to several government officials, including Ottenbreit, who responded by arranging a visit to discuss the situation in person.

The minister said he had visited Davidson Health Centre last year and spoken with some of the nurses then, but this was the first time he had met with them on this matter.

Ottenbreit said the conversation centered around staffing levels and the nurses’ desire to have a higher complement of registered nurses (RNs) working at the centre, but he provided few details.

Asked if the nurses’ concerns had merit, he said he hasn’t personally been present at the centre during peak operating times, though he understands their position.

“I take the nurses at what they’re communicating,” he said. “We take that seriously.”

For the full story, see the Sept. 26 edition of The Davidson Leader or call 306-567-2047 to subscribe today.