RHA review report - status quo rather than real change

Sadly, the committee reviewing the future of Regional Health Authorities has recommended maintaining the Tory designed NDP operated system in the way it presently works. The problem with this approach is that it does not tackle the fundamental changes which are needed to save our public health care system which we treasure so much.

Last fall, we presented to the committee our Liberal recommendations which would have moved the RHAs to operate under a framework with real accountability, and able to deliver a health care system which will provide the care you need when you need it. Our full report with real solutions is available at

http://mlp.manitobaliberals.ca/?attachment_id=339

Unfortunately, the RHA review committee appears to have listened to those with vested interests in the status quo, rather than to those calling for meaningful change. The result is the recommendations represent minimalist change and tinkering and we can expect continued major issues in the delivery of health care to continue in Manitoba.

Our press release is below:


Gerrard gives RHA Review Failing Grade
Maintains the status quo of a Tory designed and NDP run system rather than what is needed: Gerrard

Winnipeg – Manitoba Liberal Leader Dr.Jon Gerrard called the long awaited RHA Review Report a major disappointment and stressed the need for critical changes to ensure optimal results from the public health care system.

“This report recommends maintaining the status quo and the status quo is not good enough,” Dr.Gerrard said. “In order to save, preserve and enhance our public health care system we need to make major changes to get it working properly rather than just maintaining the status quo.”

While the Review talks about accountability, it fails to recommend making the fundamental change needed to achieve accountability –moving from global budgets to budgets based on services delivered.

“Very little in this report acknowledges the fundamental change that is needed to move from a Tory/NDP RHA system based on long wait times to what is needed – a system where Manitobans can get the care they need when they need it,” Dr.Gerrard said.

Furthermore the report fails to:
recognize the fundamental importance of putting patients and their primary care givers first. The report continues the present bureaucracy centred system, rather than a patient centred system.
recognize the importance of having specialist services organized on a provincial basis, resulting in a continued fragmented care approach to specialist care.
discuss and implement a province-wide process for reporting and investigating medical errors and ensuring changes are made to processes to prevent future medical errors.
adequately address and plan for wellness prevention initiatives – and to have provincial leadership in an effective way rather than a fragmented approach which varies from one RHA to another
emphasize the importance of putting Jordan’s principle – the child or the patient comes first, and implementing change to ensure this.

“Sadly I expect there will be continued suboptimal health care services for aboriginal people in Manitoba,” Dr.Gerrard said.

Manitoba Liberals submitted a 32 page written document to the RHA Review Committee outlining seven key problem areas in the RHA system and providing solutions to fixing the health care problem in Manitoba. The entire document is available on the Manitoba Liberal website at http://mlp.manitobaliberals.ca/

“Unfortunately this report provides nothing for Manitobans in way of overhauling the ailing health care system,” Dr.Gerrard said. “Manitoba Liberals are extremely disappointed and will continue to hold the government accountable on health care issues in the province.”


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For more information or interviews, contact:

Samantha Charran
Liberal Caucus Communications
(204) 228-6707
samantha.charran@leg.gov.mb.ca