Northern Health Restates Priorities

Friday, May 23, 2008 03:16 PM

Prince George, B.C. Northern Health held it's monthly meeting today in Prince George and presented its list of priorities to improve the health of Northerners.

“We remain focused on achieving the priorities set out in the Board’s strategic plan with a view to establishing Northern Health as a leader in northern and rural health care delivery,” said Dr. Charles Jago, chair of the Northern Health Board.

The key priorities focus on several strategic areas, including:

Aboriginal health: renewing Aboriginal health initiatives in consultation and cooperation with communities and health providers around the region, with a stronger focus on preventing and managing chronic diseases more effectively;
Health Link North: building a single secure clinical information system for the NH region across all hospitals to provide physicians and care staff with details of their patients’ specific care needs to better inform clinical decisions;
Healthy work life: working to reduce workplace injuries and develop more supportive work environments, all aimed at improving retention of health professionals in the north;
Northern Cancer Control Strategy: working to better deal with cancer in the region through improved prevention programs, early detection, treatment and palliative care culminating in the opening of the new BC Cancer Agency: Centre for the North in 2012; and
Primary Health Care (Care North): expanding community projects to provide more northern patients with on-going care and management of health conditions to improve health, reduce strain on acute care facilities and improve quality of life.

Northern Health will open 179 new residential care beds for seniors and people with disabilities this year as part of the provincial initiative to add 5,000 net new beds for seniors in BC. NH is also starting the replacement process for Fort St. John Hospital, and expects to complete the new health centre in Masset this year.

On the financial front, Northern Health completed its fiscal year with a small surplus of $443,000.

That is less than 1/10th of one percent of Northern Health's annual budget of $568 million dollars.

“The surplus was achieved through prudent planning, cautious spending and implemented efficiencies… practices that will continue to be important in the current fiscal year,” said Dr. Jago.

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Posted on Friday, May 23, 2008 03:16 PM in News by 250 News

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Comments

Posted by: elanke on May 23 2008 8:28 PM

This is great-sounding stuff. But, how come there is still a bed shortage in PG Regional Hospital? How come people are waiting for hours, days in the emergency? How come there is still a great shortage of health care professionals in the area? How come so many people in this area are not getting the services they need? Ever had to stand in line at the outpatient service in Spruceland? Is this what we really need or deserve?

And also, how come the health care available in Mackenzie is significantly less than a comparable town in Alberta -- Grande Cache? There has been some research done comparing these two places, with absolutely incredible differences in the level of services...they both come under the Canada Health Act. They are both funded by said Act. Why the disparity?

Perhaps that should be examined further, rather than concentrating on things that provide photo opportunities for the political-types.

Posted by: northern taxpayer on May 24 2008 6:17 AM

This incompetence is all traceable to our great leaders in the victoria castle beyond the moat.cut their salary in half - no performance-cut their damn heads off.they live in a little selfish world all to themselves ,just because we pay is no reason for them to care about anyone else.stop sending in the money it might get their attention.threat to separate from b.c. and those boobs in ottawa,its worked for quebecers.our controllers have failed miserably - time to give them the boot.how about a declaration of independence, anyone got any fortitude? we better look to the indians think they could wipe out the military with a few bows and arrows right now ,our military is over in afghanistan involved in a conspiracy to defraud them of their mineral resources - good timing for an insurrection before being invaded by some foreign nation, oops i forgot thats already in the process,the new york banks have control.hmph poor health service this is just a start more incompetence is on its way!

Posted by: Foo738 on May 24 2008 9:43 AM

That's pretty radical. I don't think it is an answer.

I think we elect people who are successful CEO's or have done well in business. I don't think these elected people are really in touch with the folk that don't have a lot of dollars.

I would like to see some ordinary folk run who have worked hard and not used other people along the road. How about some respected retiree's?

Our health care is being cut, morale is low in the helping staff. I don't see "excellence" in mission statements.

It easy to complain and sometimes those that complain don't vote. Things will never change that way.

Posted by: owl on May 24 2008 10:48 AM

1. "renewing Aboriginal health initiatives"

What went wrong with the old so called "initiatives" if they have to be renewed? Where are the stats about their effectiveness?

2. "working to reduce workplace injuries and develop more supportive work environments"

Does this mean that WorkSafe BC is not doing their job?

3. "expanding community projects to provide more northern patients with on-going care and management of health conditions to improve health, reduce strain on acute care facilities and improve quality of life."

There's the big one ... why is it last in the list? Hopefully not the last as a priority.

When I look at the list, I wonder why these would not ALWAYS be on the list. Why are these unique or special?

I guess they need something to say, so they sit around with a "communicator" who tells them what to communicate to make them look good.

4. "Northern Health will open 179 new residential care beds for seniors and people with disabilities this year"

So, that is something a bit more tangible and good news. Does anyone know how many such beds there are now? I am looking for percetnage increase, whether it is at least keeping up with the percentage increase of seniors needing that service. 179 beds sitting there by itself is a meaningless figure to someone who is not in the system and does not know the relationship to the current system.

This story gives me little, if any, information.

Posted by: owl on May 24 2008 10:50 AM

I wonder if "northern taxpayer" actually pays any taxes ....

;-)

Posted by: owl on May 24 2008 11:01 AM

http://www.health.alberta.ca/resources/health-first_intro-2001.html

An old link to some info about Albert's health care spending. At the time the highest per person spending in Canada, which should be no surprise. When you gas up your vehicle, remember where they get the momey from to afford that.

;-)

Posted by: owl on May 24 2008 11:29 AM

elanke .... good point about the difference between Mackenzie and Grande Cache. I assume that Alberta is sticking some of their oil money into their system.

BTW, my parents have similar complaints about the health care system and seniors care system in large city urban Ontario as we have here. In fact, we appear to have some shorter waiting times for access to senior care beds as well as non-emergency medical treatments.