Menno Place ensures sustainability and legacy of care for seniors who are cared for at Menno Hospital

October Menno Place ensured the sustainability of care for seniors in Menno Hospital when it made the very difficult decision to layoff 11 full-time nurses, 18 part-time nurses and casual nurses. This decision to layoff nursing positions was made by the Board of the Mennonite Benevolent Society to address a mounting $1.62 million deficit at Menno Hospital. This measure will rectify the annual budget deficit at Menno Hospital within three years. The alternative to this layoff was to close the beds, relocate 151 residents and layoff all the Menno Hospital staff.

On August 6th, 2015, BCNU (British Columbia Nurses Union) was given notice of Menno Place's intent to contract out nursing services at Menno Hospital. On September 29th, 2015, twenty-nine nursing positions at Menno Hospital were given working notice of layoff along with the casual nurses.

Menno Hospital is one of two residential care facilities operated by the Mennonite Benevolent Society at Menno Place. There are 151 residents who live at Menno Hospital.

Quality resident care is the primary focus at Menno Place. This continues to be the primary focus during this six-month time of transition. The Health Care Aides working at Menno Hospital will continue to provide continuity of care and compassionate relationships as daily caregivers at the bedside.

As a Christian organization, one of the values of Menno Place is Stewardship of resources for the benefit of the residents and the long-term sustainability of operations. Click to read our values.

"Our board tried and tried to do everything it could so it didn't affect nursing. It was a very difficult decision for my board, (who) really care about our staff. It's really tough to make these decisions that impact people's lives." - Karen Baillie, CEO