‘The system is not working’
Regional approach, advocacy critical to health-care effort: mayor
A new Grand Falls-Windsor Community Healthcare Coalition Committee wants to take the us-against-them mentality and reactive lobbying out of considerations for imminent health-care changes.
Instead, the approach will be one more based on supporting government in making the right decisions to redesign an outdated health delivery system.
The committee is comprised of community volunteers who have interest and experience in advocating for the continued improvement of health-care services in the central region, a press release from the Town of Grand Falls-Windsor noted.
Objectives include studying, researching and investigating the plans from the Provincial Health Accord Committee, the Moya Greene Report and the provincial government “to ensure that the strategies for reorganizing and/or reimagining health care in the province are implemented … in a way that maintains or enhances the quality of care…”
“We understand this is a regional issue,” Mayor Barry Manuel told Central Wire. “The health centre is here in town but … in the not too distant future we will be engaging other communities and other stakeholders. People need to know we have this committee, that it is dedicated to the sustainability and advancement of our hospital here in Grand Falls-Windsor and the more people we can get in the region on board with that the better off we’ll be in the long run…”
Committee members include Cyril Farrell (Chair), Allan Bradley, Holly Dwyer (council representative), Reginald Hamilton, Dr. Donald Hodder, Margaret Power and Ruth Down-Robinson.
Supporting integrated elder care, a new model of community teams, a new emergency services model, improved virtual care and other innovations that lead to better health outcomes are some objectives.
The early work of the group will focus on being educated about the present realities in order to offer the best input for implementing changes.
“To think that a politician is the right one to make decisions around health care just doesn’t make sense,” said Manuel. “It’s the people who have the experience and knowledge and that’s why educating ourselves … we can bring forward fact-based arguments.”
“The fly in the ointment in terms of implementation is the Moya Greene Report,” said Farrell.
“… they’re saying to government that over a five to six year period you’re going to need to take 25 per cent out of health care (spending). I don’t think you’re going to see new money, but I would like to think that the outcome would be a quality health care system within the budget that we have…”
Advocacy and publicly engaging stakeholders will be key as well, noted the mayor, adding the plan is for one regional health centre under two roofs.
“We … don’t want Gander to be crushed. We don’t want to be taking all the services, but we want (what) makes most sense for health care,” Manuel said. Advocacy will need to be more proactive, Farrell added.
There is some concern about how the Accord is utilized by government.
“Is it going to be shelved? Is it going to be cherry picked or is it going to be implemented in a way that isn’t intended?” Manuel listed among questions going forward.
“I know there has been some talk about having some sort of oversight implementation group who could stay involved in this process as government starts the implementation and I think that’s crucial because you want things to be done so that you get the best outcomes.”
CHANGING TIMES
Dealing with the physician shortage is critical, noted Farrell.
“We need to recognize that by having a critical mass of physicians, (patients) will end up in the safest place…,” the chairman noted. “It’s a bit of a public education thing to have people understand they might have to travel but also know they’ll get the best care…”
“The province is going to have a challenge with that because people are resistant to change and this is a way of looking at health care that is different than they’re used to,” the mayor added.
“I understand people are afraid, especially with health care and they feel that we’re being short- changed. Well, we’re being short-changed now.” Farrell noted.
“So, the system is not working as it is but this Health Accord is proposing some solutions that I think are very practical.”
Farrell is open to input from area residents, which can be forwarded to the committee at gfwhealthcoalition@gmail.com.