opinion

This Canadian Critical Care Week, we recognize and thank critical care teams across the country for all the help they provide to Canadians during critical times.

October 23, 2023 | Ottawa, Ontario | Health Canada

Each year, more than 100,000 Canadians rely on the support of critical care teams to receive life-saving care in intensive care units. This Canadian Critical Care Week, we recognize and thank critical care teams across the country for all the help they provide to Canadians during critical times.

We recognize the extraordinary work that healthcare professionals in intensive care units do to help patients recover from serious injury or illness. They care for the most vulnerable patients and provide critical care and life-saving support with compassion and professionalism.

Health-care workers, including critical care nurses, are the backbone of our health-care system. We know that emergency department and intensive care unit staff across the country are struggling due to the health-care workforce shortage, which has led to burnout rates, unprecedented absenteeism and staff turnover. With the help of the provinces and territories, we are working to improve conditions for health-care workers and find immediate and long-term solutions to address these major challenges.

As part of our efforts to support the health workforce, our Working Together to Improve Health Care in Canada plan will invest nearly $200 billion in Canadian health services over 10 years. This plan includes actions to support the health workforce through retention and recruitment, and to implement more team-based care models. The plan also calls for the creation of a Centre of Excellence on the Future of the Health Workforce to ensure better planning by improving the information and data we have on the health workforce.

In addition, we recently committed with our provincial and territorial partners to work together to address retention issues affecting the entire health workforce. This year, the focus is on nursing, and we will then tackle other health professions. We have agreed with our colleagues to promote the dissemination and implementation of the Nursing Retention Toolbox: Improving the Professional Life of Nurses in Canada, which, once launched, employers and health authorities can use to promote retention of nurses in their organizations.

We look forward to continuing to work with our provincial and territorial partners to support health workers and advance the commitments we made at the Prince Edward Island Health Ministers meeting earlier this month.

Every day, critical care professionals like doctors, nurses, pharmacists, respiratory therapists, physical therapists and other support staff are on the front lines, working tirelessly for hours to help people in need. They have sacrificed so much to keep us healthy and safe. We are proud to support healthcare workers, advance efforts for their well-being and reduce burnout.

On behalf of the Government of Canada, we thank you for the daily care you provide to critically ill patients and for the important role you play in the health and well-being of the public.

The Honourable Mark Holland, PC, MP
The Honorable Ya’ara Saks, PC, MP

contacts

Christopher Aoun
Press Officer
Office of the Honorable Mark Holland
Minister of Health
613-291-4176

Alex Fernandes
Press Officer and Senior Communications Consultant
Office of the Honorable Ya’ara Saks
Minister for Mental Health and Addiction and Deputy Minister for Health
613-290-0318

Media relations

Health Canada
613-957-2983
media@hc-sc.gc.ca