Health Authorities Business Planning Protects Patient Services
The province, district health authorities and the IWK are working on business plans that ensure patient care is protected while keeping health-care spending in check.
For 2013-14, government has asked district health authorities and IWK to target no increase in health care funding. Districts health authorities are being asked to focus on innovation and efficiency to provide better care sooner within the current budget.
"Nova Scotians need to be able to count on quality care being there now and in the future," said David Wilson, Minister of Health and Wellness. "However, we need to do things differently and be innovative managing our health-care system. Rapidly rising spending cannot continue."
District health authorities are expected to minimize the impact on patients in business plans, so quality care is protected.
There have been minimal increases to district health authority budgets for the past couple of years and despite the difficult task, they have successfully found better ways to deliver health-care services to cover costs.
Recent projects such as the Merged Services initiative, where the districts and IWK identified collaborative ways to reduce spending, have found efficiencies. In the first year, the DHAs and IWK have reduced 38 positions in administration and support services. This includes six vice-presidents and other executives for $3.4 million in savings.
"Holding spending growth in health care is not easy," said Mr. Wilson. "This is a challenging exercise for those who manage the operations of the health-care system. The DHAs and IWK have shown strong leadership throughout this process, and I know we can count on that leadership to continue.
"I would also like to thank the many frontline staff whose ideas and commitment to patient care often provide the right answers about how to make our system better and more patient focused."
The health authorities will continue to collaborate with the Department of Health and Wellness as they work to submit business plans for approval.
Health-care funding represents 40 per cent of all provincial government spending, or $3.8 billion.