News Release Archive
HEALTH--MINISTER OUTLINES RENEWAL PLANS ----------------------------------------------------------------- The provincial government is increasing health care spending in key areas to sustain and enhance services, while easing the pace of health reform, Health Minister Bernie Boudreau announced today. "This government is continuing with its commitment to provide quality health care, and to the vision of health care renewal expressed in Nova Scotia's Blueprint for Health System Reform," Mr. Boudreau said. "A fundamental part of the commitment is ensuring realistic budgeting is in place to provide for the health care needs of Nova Scotians." Mr. Boudreau unveiled the direction for "the next phase of health care renewal," a period spanning the next 18 months. He said it will be a period of deliberate, managed change. The minister highlighted the expanded health budget and his plan for implementing health renewal. "We needed to take immediate action to modernize the health care system. We are now past the first stage of change, and can move on to solidify and build on our successes to date at a sustainable, appropriate pace." An analysis of health care spending by the Departments of Health and Finance along with Priorities and Planning determined additional funding of some $65 million is required this year to maintain and enhance new and existing services at a level that meets the needs of Nova Scotians. The increase in funding has been approved by Cabinet and is above and beyond the appropriation in the budget. The Department of Health will operate effectively within its newly expanded budget. Most of the additional funds will be allocated to Home Care, Pharmacare, physician medical payments and hospitals. The government's commitment to a fully balanced budget will not be compromised by additional health care spending. The increased funding will come from other operations within government. The second area of priority is the managed implementation of health renewal, during a phase stretching over the next 18 months. Designation of hospitals, or the transfer of hospital governance to regional health boards (RHBs), will proceed. Boards will assume governance of most hospitals, with a few exceptions, on either Oct. 1, 1996 or Jan. 1, 1997. The four largest facilities that provide the most complex care, the QEII, the Cape Breton Health Care Complex, the IWK-Grace and the Nova Scotia Hospital, will not be transferred during the 18-month stage. In each case, boards at those facilities are in the process of implementing business plans that have been approved by government. The process will not be interrupted. As well, governance is more complex at these facilities. Three of the four facilities were created through recent mergers, and three are also teaching hospitals. At the end of the current fiscal year, March 31, 1997, regional boards will begin to assume responsibility for delivery of certain primary care services, specifically drug dependency and public health. To help ease the transfer process, a Primary Care Transition Team will be established. The team, made up of representatives from regional health boards and the Department of Health, will help to lay the groundwork for the next priority, which is the transfer of Home Care Nova Scotia to the regional health boards. To help manage change in hospitals, an ongoing working group is being established. The working group includes chairs and CEOs of the regional health boards and the four hospital boards, plus senior Health Department staff. The group's mandate is to deliver a rational and coordinated approach to hospital-based care across the province. With regional health boards assuming significant responsibilities over the next 18 months, time is needed for their management teams to gain experience with primary care management and hospital governance. The formal establishment of community health boards will be delayed to ensure a regional foundation is firmly in place. "We remain totally committed to community-based input in our health care decision-making. We hope to benefit from the varied experience gained by RHBs as they develop approaches to community involvement and advice. During the 18 months we will be learning and preparing for community health boards, to get it right," Mr. Boudreau said. Mr. Boudreau said the government is committed to quality health care and to sound management. "We are determined to develop and sustain a health care system second to none in Canada and the world." -30- Contact: Lori MacLean 902-424-5025 trp August 15, 1996 - 11:00 a.m.