New Brunswick health officials optimistic with Ottawa's health-care offer
With more than just funding on the table from the federal government, health officials in New Brunswick say they are optimistic about what comes next.
“What we’re happy to see, and we’ll see how the next years roll out, is this increased [empathy] on results for citizens,” said Stéphane Robichaud, CEO of the New Brunswick Health Council.
Adding, “It’s not just about increasing funding, it’s not just about saying, 'The system is under pressure we’ll increase the money.' There’s a lot of talk about saying, ‘We need to specify what we will get in return.’”
He says what’s positive is this round of discussion from government brought a bigger focus on what results will come from the proposed money, instead of just focusing on the funding itself.
“There’s more talk in this round about saying, ‘How are we actually going to measure results from these investments?’ And I think it’s a sign of the times too, that people want to know if we’re going to invest more, what are we going to get in return,” he said.
He adds that New Brunswick already has a provincial health-care plan in place that can serve as a backdrop.
“The health plan already identifies primary care, needing to improve timely access, ensuring we deal with all these people that don’t have a primary care provider, surgical wait times is identified in there so making sure that we’re clear as to what the current baselines are and what are we aiming from an improvement perspective,” he said.
Meanwhile, the New Brunswick Medical Society is also calling the plan encouraging.
“It’s the first step for us to maybe change the way we work and make it better for our patients,” said president Dr. Michèle Michaud.
She points out three major areas that need immediate attention: primary care, recruitment, retention and human resource strategies and modernization of technology.
“It’s all linked together, right? So if we have a better collaborative teams, we’ll have better health environments for workers and if we want to have collaborative teams we need to have technology that can actually transport information from one place to another with the patient,” she said.
With a proposal now in place, Michaud says there’s no more time to wait.
“We need to get on with the work right now because the crisis is there and it’s not going to be solved tomorrow morning, but we need to get to work and have things done as fast as possible for our patients,” she said.
Even with the government’s offer very fresh, officials with both the medical society and the health council say they’re hopeful.
“I think we’re at a point where the external pressure’s now are forcing our hands,” said Robichaud. “We had a tour of consultation two years ago, primary care providers, family doctors, for example, in general, are very, very upfront in saying the current model is not working, it’s not sustainable so we have to find a new reality and work towards that.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Police arrest 3 Indian nationals in killing of B.C. Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar
Three people have been arrested and charged in the killing of B.C. Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar – as authorities continue investigating potential connections to the Indian government.
Five areas Canada's foreign interference commissioner says needs more investigation
Commissioner Marie-Josee Hogue released her interim report examining foreign election interference on Friday. Here are five elements of the issue that Hogue says she needs to further probe before she can make conclusions or recommendations.
Police officer hit by driver of fleeing vehicle in Toronto
York Regional Police say they are continuing to search for a suspect in an auto theft investigation who was captured on video running over a police officer in Toronto last month.
Why your airfare may be getting more expensive
Skyrocketing airfare prices are linked to heightened competition and rising food and fuel, according to the CAA.
TD worst-case scenario more likely after drug money laundering allegations: analyst
TD Bank Group could be hit with more severe penalties than previously expected, says a banking analyst after a report that the investigation it faces in the U.S. is tied to laundering illicit fentanyl profits.
New weight-loss drug Wegovy not a 'magic bullet,' doctor warns
As Wegovy becomes available to Canadians starting Monday, a medical expert is cautioning patients wanting to use the drug to lose weight that no medication is a ''magic bullet,' and the new medication is meant particularly for people who meet certain criteria related to obesity and weight.
Drew Carey is never quitting 'The Price Is Right'
Drew Carey took over as host of 'The Price Is Right' and hopes he’s there for life. 'I'm not going anywhere,' he told 'Entertainment Tonight' of the job he took over from longtime host Bob Barker in 2007.
Manitoba man sentenced to house arrest for keeping fishing tournament funds meant for Children's Hospital Foundation
A Manitoba man who pleaded guilty to keeping the funds raised from an ice-fishing fundraiser for the Children's Hospital Foundation of Manitoba has been handed a sentence of 18 months house arrest.
Funeral today for broadcasting legend and voice of 'Hockey Night in Canada' Bob Cole
A funeral is being held today for hockey broadcasting legend Bob Cole in his hometown of St. John's, N.L.