Victorian Order of Nurses closure in P.E.I. leaves private company offering to fill gap

At least one health care company on P.E.I. hopes to fill the void in services left by the closure of the Victorian Order of Nurses in the province.

Officials with Bayshore Home Health P.E.I. say they have talked to the province and offered to provide that care at least on an interim basis.

Earlier this week, the VON announced all programs at its Summerside location have been cancelled, and eight part-time and casual employees have been let go.

Mary McDonald, the manager of clinical practice for Bayshore Home Health on the Island, said the company already provides the same kind of care, so it would not be a difficult transition.

"We just want to ensure that everybody is aware that our company is available to help people through this transition, that the services such as foot care and nursing care are things that we are experienced in providing," McDonald said.

"We just want to make sure that everybody knows that we have that ability to do that so that there is no disruption of services to people."

McDonald said the company would be interested in hiring some of the VON staff members who have been laid off.

She said some people pay privately, but she expects patients who already receive coverage under government or insurance plans would be able to continue to do so with Bayshore Home Health.

McDonald said the goal is to ensure no one goes without the services they need.