Alberta Union of Provincial Employees say there is a significant need for more nurses across the province.

At a meeting last night, the group outlined the need calling for better training, better resources and more staffing.

They also call the nurse to patient ratio a problem, saying there isn’t enough nurses for the amount of patients.

Former nurse Gayle Langford said better organized facilities would help solve the problem.

“If we have a two-person lift and you’re at the end of the hall and I have to run to go get you and I don’t have enough equipment what I am spending all my time doing ?”

“We can organize things a little better. There are lots of facilities that are not organized very well, but if they were organized a little better; they would actually make better use of their staff.”

Accountability and transparency in private long-term healthcare facilities is also needed, according to the AUPE.

Union Vice President Caren Weirs said taxpayers need to be better informed on where their dollars are being spent.

“There’s no way of knowing what the money is being spent on or how it’s being spent and that’s what we need to be aware of.”

“If taxpayers were aware of what’s behind those closed doors that could be a very interesting conversation as to how those dollars are being spent.”

Langford also said Alberta Health Services need to use the tools they already have and better assess the patients’ needs to provide the appropriate care for seniors.