Shelburne County residents engaged in community conversations
A “wide range of themes” came out of four community conversations about health care with Shelburne County residents on Nov. 17, 18 and 19.
The Nova Scotia Health Authority (NSHA), in partnership with the Barrington and Area Chamber of Commerce, the Municipality of Barrington, and the Town of Lockeport hosted the community engagement sessions in Lockeport, Barrington, Clark’s Harbour and Shelburne.
Approximately 20 people attended the session in Shelburne, said Shelburne Municipal Warden Penny Smith.
“It was a positive, two-hour session that provided people the opportunity to talk about what we offer as a community, discuss creative and innovative ideas on how we could utilize and enhance our hospital as well as moving forward, what we can do as individuals, as a group and perhaps what others could do to improve health care services in Shelburne County,” said Warden Smith.
Geoff Wilson, director of public engagement and Community
Health Board support for the NSHA, said while the turn-out was lower than hoped for at several of the sessions, a “wide range of themes” were brought forward at the meetings.
“What we heard is the people who live in Shelburne County have a great deal of pride in their community and that community pride is seen as a strength and asset that can use for their benefit,” said Wilson.
“We heard very clearly that people want solutions. They want to be part of those solutions. There was some acknowledgement the situation there will come with some change, probably in the way things are done. The community clearly told us they want to be included in some of those discussions as change unfolds, whatever that might be.
“People are frustrated. I think a lot of that frustration comes of out the fact they want better communication from us. They want to be able to have a clear understanding of what’s happening and set their expectations accordingly.”
The NSHA began consultations in the community last summer, interviewing community members, community leaders and health care staff, producing the report Themes and Patterns, which is available online, to examine the underlying issues associated with the health care conversation in Shelburne County.
“Back about a year ago when former CEO Janet Knox and a couple of other executives were having conversations with municipal leaders in Shelburne County we were really encouraged to come down and do some community engagement and start to get the community involved in the conversation. We really took that advice to heart,” said Wilson. “That’s why were doing this.”
Besides the community engagement sessions a team of people who are residents of Shelburne County have been formed and are working with the NSHA in an advisory role, said Wilson.
“We’ve got a team in the hospital made up of staff doing the same thing,” he said.
Wilson said what has really struck him from the work they've been doing since the summer is, he said, "people recognize there is a whole set of factors related to recruitment and retention of health professionals and providing health care services in the county… there’s a whole set of factors unrelated to the health care system itself that contribute to some of the health care challenges."
“There’s a growing awareness with some of the conversations we’ve been having, the community needs to start talking and working more closely together around issues that only the community can resolve,” said Wilson. “There is awareness amongst people that they can take steps to work together. We’re hoping through this process that’s going to happen.”
Next steps will include compiling the information from the community engagement sessions as well as the sessions held with Roseway Hospital staff and from other sources and developing a report that will hopefully help to “break down some of the misconceptions and maybe built a little bit more trust going forward. That’s something we’re very eager to do,” said Wilson.
To join the conversation, visit www.OurPlaceOurTime.ca or call 1-844-983-1240.