FREDERICTON (GNB) – Another 16 nursing homes will contract their laundry services to FacilicorpNB, beginning this spring. The change is part of a continuing effort to ensure the long-term stability of New Brunswick nursing homes.

The Department of Social Development and the New Brunswick Association of Nursing Homes made the announcement.

"Finding cost and efficiency improvements in the delivery of programs and services is a key part of rebuilding New Brunswick together," said Social Development Minister Madeleine Dubé. "The transition of laundry operations to FacilicorpNB will enable the provincial government to realize savings annually without impacting nursing home operations and services to the residents."  

This transition will be phased in beginning in March and is expected to be completed by the end of June. The contract will only apply to bed linens. The change will not result in job losses for current nursing home employees. The 28 employees affected will be offered other employment within the nursing homes.

"As the demand for nursing home care increases during difficult economic times, the pressure increases to be as efficient as possible,” said Michael Keating, executive director of the New Brunswick Association of Nursing Homes. “It is for this reason that nursing homes must work closely with government to ensure tax dollars are spent wisely."

Outsourcing laundry services will save nearly $600,000 annually once fully implemented.

FacilicorpNB, the public-sector agency responsible for certain non-clinical services in the province's health-care system, has been providing laundry and linen services to 19 nursing homes for many years. This announcement means 35 nursing homes – more than one-half of the 65 in the province – will be benefiting from the shared-services approach to laundry management.

An operations committee was established in 2011 to identify cost-saving areas in nursing homes. The committee consists of representatives of the Department of Social Development, the New Brunswick Association of Nursing Homes, nursing home administrators and FacilicorpNB.

Following is the list of nursing homes that will be outsourcing their laundry services effective this spring:

●    Foyer Notre-Dame de Saint-Léonard, Saint-Léonard;
●    Foyer Saint-Joseph de Saint-Basile, Edmundston;
●    Foyer Sainte-Elizabeth, Baker Brook;
●    Fundy Nursing Home, Blacks Harbour;
●    Grand Falls Manor, Grand Falls;
●    Jordan Lifecare Centre, The Glades;
●    Kennebec Manor, Saint John;
●    Kings Way Care Centre, Quispamsis;
●    Manoir Edith B. Pinet, Paquetville;
●    Passamaquoddy Lodge, Saint Andrews;
●    Résidences Inkerman, Inkerman;
●    Résidences Lucien Saindon, Laméque;
●    Résidences Mgr. Chiasson, Shippagan;
●    Rocmaura Nursing Home, Saint John;
●    Villa Des Jardins, Edmundston; and
●    Villa Saint-Joseph, Tracadie-Sheila.


25-02-13