Staffing stability continues to improve at The Pines Long-Term Care Home and Fairvern Nursing Home, with new recruitment gains and a continued reduction in reliance on staffing agencies, according to a recent operational update.
Agency staffing hours at The Pines remain slightly above the 12-month rolling average but have improved compared to last year. In May 2026, agency use totalled 1,191 hours, down from 1,481 hours during the same month in 2025 — a reduction of approximately 20 per cent.
Recruitment efforts have also shown positive results, with May marking the largest single-month gain in new hires. Across The Pines and Fairvern, total vacancies dropped to 19 in May 2026, compared to 39 one year earlier.
Fairvern continued to see significant improvement in agency reliance, recording just 38 hours of RN agency coverage in May. No PSW or RPN agency hours were required, and total agency use declined 30 per cent year-over-year, from 54 hours in May 2025 to 38 hours in May 2026.
While The Pines is currently projected to face a $586,900 unfavourable personnel and agency cost variance, staff noted that declining agency usage trends could result in a lower year-end impact.
The report explains that the Pines experienced a two-week outbreak in May that affected one home area and three residents. According to the report, the outbreak was successfully managed without requiring additional staffing resources, while maintaining resident care standards and meeting Ministry of Long-Term Care infection prevention and control requirements.
The transition to the new Fairvern building remains scheduled for fall 2026.
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