With AG taking over review into travel nurse spending, no report coming from initial investigation

CBC
·2 min read
Health Minister Tom Osborne says the new St. Clare's hospital or the new long-term storage facility at the Health Sciences Centre may include an upgraded office for the chief medical examiner who raised that flag in 2017 over inadequate space. (Mark Quinn/CBC - image credit)
Health Minister Tom Osborne says the new St. Clare's hospital or the new long-term storage facility at the Health Sciences Centre may include an upgraded office for the chief medical examiner who raised that flag in 2017 over inadequate space. (Mark Quinn/CBC - image credit)
Health Minister Tom Osborne says the new St. Clare's hospital or the new long-term storage facility at the Health Sciences Centre may include an upgraded office for the chief medical examiner who raised that flag in 2017 over inadequate space.
Health Minister Tom Osborne says the new St. Clare's hospital or the new long-term storage facility at the Health Sciences Centre may include an upgraded office for the chief medical examiner who raised that flag in 2017 over inadequate space.

Health Minister Tom Osborne said Tuesday that a report from the comptroller general on agency nurse spending won't happen, as the auditor general has taken over the investigation. (Mark Quinn/CBC)

Now that Newfoundland and Labrador's auditor general has begun an investigation into the province's health sector contracts, there won't be a report from the initial investigation by the comptroller general.

During question period in the House of Assembly on Tuesday, Health Minister Tom Osborne said the comptroller general's review of spending on travel nurses ended when Auditor General Denise Hanrahan's office took over, and a report wasn't produced.

"The comptroller general wrote me to indicate that they are no longer carrying out a review because the auditor general is. There's no need for two parallel reviews to be taking place," he said.

Osborne had asked the comptroller general in February to investigate concerns about contracting private nursing agencies to work in the province.

Hanrahan's office confirmed to CBC News in March that it will conduct a performance audit of health sector contracts, including those for private nursing agencies.

The comptroller general reports to Treasury Board President Siobhan Coady, also the provincial finance minister, who said Tuesday there was "very preliminary data" shared with the auditor general's office.

Opposition leader Tony Wakeham told the House the data should be released publicly now, noting an investigation from Hanrahan's office could take as long as 18 months.

"We were told that the comptroller general's office was doing a review and would do a report," Wakeham said. "If there's a report prepared, let's see it. That's all I'm asking for."

Osborne told Wakeham in response that he didn't receive a report from the comptroller general.

"I do not believe there was a report done. There wasn't enough time to do a report," he said.

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