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Quebec
Doc group weighs
in on reforms
QUEBEC —
The association representing Quebec's general practitioners
(FMOQ) is the latest group to come forward during the
province's hearings into their response to the Supreme
Court decision on the Chaoulli case. The FMOQ thinks
the government should go further and supports the idea
of an insurance plan to help Quebecers bear the cost
for care when they lose their autonomy, as proposed
by the recent Menard report. It also stands behind private
specialist clinics affiliated with public hospitals
but would rather they work without government restrictions.
The Quebec Order of Nurses, however, warns that the
increased use of affiliated specialty clinics could
make the staffing shortage worse. DB
New
Brunswick
Health Minister
under fire
BATHURST —
A bungled trauma case in the northern town of Tracadie
has Health Minister Brad Green on the political hotseat.
Last November a 67-year-old gentleman was injured in
a car crash, but the Tracadie hospital wasn't equipped
to care for his injuries. It took 12 hours to find a
facility that was able to adequately care for the patient.
In a report to the province, a physician consultant
to the Hay Group, and commissioned by the government,
made 29 recommendations calling for improvements to
trauma care and the establishment of two trauma centres
to provide 24-hour care. SB
Nova
Scotia
Capital Health nabs
new CEO
HALIFAX —
John Malcom, CEO of the Cape Breton district health
authority, has been tapped to fill the same role for
the Capital district health authority until it finds
a successor for Don Ford, the outgoing CEO. Mr Malcom
says his experience running the province's second largest
health district for the past nine years will be an advantage
but he expects the learning curve will be steep. His
top priorities will be business planning and population
health. Mr Malcom will assume the job on Wednesday for
a period of six months unless a new CEO is hired sooner.
He has no plans at this point to apply for the top job
himself. PL
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Prince
Edward Island
Island stingy on
MD bonuses
CHARLOTTETOWN
— PEI isn't keeping pace with its neighbours
in doctor incentive programs, according to opposition
leader Joe Ghiz. A doctor who sets up shop in rural
PEI can expect a $15,000 bonus if they agree to stay
for two years. Docs in Nova Scotia expect $95,000. When
Health Minister Chester Gillan retorted that the small
province can't afford such generous incentives, Mr Ghiz
became enraged, charging that Mr Gillan considers Islanders
to be "second-class citizens." Mr Gillan denied the
invective and said there will be an increase in incentives
but wouldn't give any details at this juncture. SB
Newfoundland
Emergency response
woes
ST JOHN'S —
Eastern Health board paramedics set up information picket
lines recently, calling for improved emergency services.
The paramedics say four ambulances during the day and
two after midnight are inadequate for the region's population
of more than 200,000. They also voiced concern that
only one dispatcher handles emergency calls at night.
Eastern Health is the province's largest health board
since 14 boards were amalgamated into four last year.
Chief executive officer George Tilley said the board
is looking at better co-ordination of services and the
hiring of another dispatcher. DSS
The
North
TB alert stretches
north
WHITEHORSE, YT
— The same TB outbreak that has infected
some 19 people in a First Nation's community in Northern
Manitoba has health officials seriously concerned in
the Yukon. Last week the territory's communicable disease
officer Colleen Hemsley and tuberculosis nurse Jackie
Van Langen met with the media to discuss symptoms of
TB and pleaded for people to seek medical attention
if they are displaying any symptoms. Ms Hemsley says
that the disease is curable, albeit after a period of
six months or longer on antibiotics it is also deadly.
HY
Contributors: Hector Andrews, Simon
Biggar, Donna Byers, Lance Davies, Geoff Everett, Thane
Jenkins, Paige Lee, Julie J Mercier, Deana Stokes Sullivan,
and Henrietta Yan.
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