Health care jobs deserve respect: union leader
This week’s edition of who is saying what about public health care is compiled by Pat Van Horne.
Spending going up on health care workers
“We need these jobs to be treated with the respect that they deserve. They’re vital to our society and yet we’re competing right now with Mc-Donald’s… It’s a difficult job. It takes a lot of patience, a certain type of people, and we have to be able to entice them to come to the system. I think there’s a lot of work to be done in that area,” said Kyle Ross, president, Manitoba Government and General Employees’ Union, to the Winnipeg Free Press, May 27,2024
Primary care fix – universal, team-based, integrated, accessible records, culturally safe, accountable
“Countries with primary care for everyone achieve the best health outcomes for the lowest costs — largely because of downstream savings. If you detect a problem early, it’s less costly to treat. If you manage risk factors (such as diabetes, high cholesterol and high blood pressure) over time, people are less likely to develop cardiac disease, strokes, or dementia — all of which are expensive to treat. . . What we’re doing now — leaving one in five people with no primary care — is the option we can’t afford any longer,” wrote Dr. Jane Philpott, former federal health minister, Dean of Health Sciences at Queen’s University, in The Toronto Star, May 23, 2024
Toronto’s SickKids hospital joining others to address surgical wait list
“I think really seeing how all of these hospitals have come together at a systems level to address the pediatric surgical wait list has been, I would say, inspiring to be part of . . . I think we’ve come a long way and we still have a long way to go,” said Jessica Ivan, Hospital for Sick Children, manager of community partnerships, to the Globe and Mail, May 27, 2024
“Health outcomes for children in Canada are worsening, year over year . . . We have a moral and financial imperative to take action to reverse this trend, for our kids, and for our collective future,” said Emily Gruenwoldt, president and CEO, Children’s Healthcare Canada, to the Globe and Mail, May 27, 2024
Alberta health care chaos: don’t use words like “COVID-19” or “Influenza”
“New legislation tabled (this month) breaks up Alberta Health Services and its 110,000 employees into four separate organizations; acute care, continuing care, mental health and addictions and primary care. The former provincewide, integrated system was already delivering those services (except for primary care) to 4.5 million people. . . It’s hard to know how this will all work out for patients and health care workers because the new system has never been tried before — anywhere,” wrote Calgary journalist Gillian Steward, in the Toronto Star, May 22, 2024
Prime Minister Trudeau defends Bill C-64 as first step to full Pharmacare
“Medications like contraceptives and insulin are too expensive. That’s why we’re covering the cost. By launching the first phase of universal pharmacare, we’re making sure Canadians get the care they need, when they need it, and without worrying about the bill. That’s what fairness is all about,” said Justin Trudeau, in a government press statement, May 24, 2024
It’s all connected – homelessness, health care
“What we’re seeing more and more in health care is a realization that a person’s social circumstances have a big influence on their health and their health care, so I think that information is important for physicians . . .It can help them determine if they can afford medication, if they have safe housing to return to or if they have a phone for a follow-up. . .What we think is important is using data to make these invisible populations visible, because at the end of the day, only when you can be counted, do you truly count,” said Geoff Hynes, manager of population health at the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI), to CBC News Saskatoon, May 27, 2024
Northern hospital fighting for promised federal funding
“Canada must honour its fiduciary responsibilities and uphold their promises with Omushkegowuk People of James Bay. Healthcare and access delivery is a Treaty Right. Canada must be held accountable (WAHA) Redevelopment Project. No more will we allow governments to continue to treat us with such disregard and disrespect,” said Chief Sylvia Koostachin-Metatawabin, Attawapiskat First Nation, in a Weeneebayko Area Health Authority media release, May 27, 2024
Health Association of African Canadians wants 10-year plan
“We have been leaders in Black health in this province (Nova Scotia). We do have priorities for both Nova Scotia and the country. . .Nationally we would very much like to see a 10-year plan for Black health with improved outcomes in Canada that will be measured biannually, so we can course correct as we go,” said Sharon Davis-Murdoch, Health Association of African Canadians, to CTV News Atlantic, May 25, 2024
Strange bedfellows: Santé Québec to include hotel managers
“They found a place for someone coming from the hotel business but they didn’t find a place for coming from the social services,” said Québéc Solidaire spokesperson Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois, to CTV News, May 23, 2024
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