An end to the nurse practitioner's salary issue that has plagued the Town of Bonnyville and the MD of Bonnyville could be in sight.
Since the provincial government announced it would no longer fund the nurse practitioner program, the Town and MD have stepped forward to provide funding to maintain the program and keep the nurse practitioner in the area, a position that was supported by local physicians and kept emergency room wait times down. Requests the government reinstate funding and pay retroactively for the funds the Town and MD have spent were denied.
Now, however, the Town has been asked to provide records of funding from April 2011 forward, raising hopes they could be reimbursed.
"We've had nothing official, just a phone call asking for the cost," said Town CAO Mark Power. "The request was not official, we have nothing in writing, but we're hoping that, by asking the question, they're looking at seriously funding it."
The reason the government changed its stance on the project is, "because we keep asking," he said laughing. "I'm hoping they're going to fund it."
He cautioned against being too excited, saying, "We're being optimistic."
