Green leader David Coon answering a question in Sackville on February 27th during a stop in his health-care tour of the province. He was accompanied by local Green MLA Megan Mitton

New Brunswick Green Party leader David Coon has renewed his call for major investments in health care combined with more local say in decision-making.

“Granting greater autonomy to local managers and engaging local citizens on community health boards would ensure primary healthcare is community-driven and responsive to local needs,” Coon writes in his final report on the findings of his “Healing Our Healthcare Tour” of the province in February and March.

“The same applies to hospitals, where staff are forced to operate in silos, responding to remote managers rather than working collaboratively with local hospital administrators,” he adds in the report released today.

Coon, who visited community health centres and nursing homes accompanied by deputy Green leaders Megan Mitton and Kevin Arseneau, reports that during a town hall in Richibucto, a local doctor called for substantially more health-care spending in line with recommendations in a report from the New Brunswick Nurses Union and the New Brunswick Medical Society which called for a $600 million investment in the first year.

“Both seniors and their care providers continue to be challenged with inadequate support,” Coon writes.

“Nursing homes face challenges in attracting and retaining qualified registered nurses and personal support workers, exacerbated by inadequate budgets and the rising costs of living. Effective efforts to recruit and retain staff at all levels are vital for the long-term sustainability of senior care.”

Local inititatives

The Green leader’s report refers to a local initiative in Saint John that linked the main community health centre with smaller satellite centres as well as with health professionals at St. Joseph’s Hospital.

“This initiative resulted in a collaborative network of multidisciplinary healthcare teams, significantly enhancing primary healthcare access for thousands in Saint John who would otherwise lack a family doctor,” Coon reports.

“In Rogersville, the local health clinic collaborated with a diverse team of health professionals operating from a nearby heritage home rented by Horizon Health to provide community-based health services,” he adds.

“In both instances, these interconnected and interdependent healthcare teams were established through the proactive efforts of dynamic local healthcare managers. It’s baffling that the Department of Health doesn’t recognize these initiatives as potential models for improving primary healthcare access elsewhere.”

Coon’s report also highlights the Nursing Home Without Walls project in Port Elgin that operates out of a local nursing home.

“The work of the staff is increasing the quality of life for seniors, ending loneliness and isolation, addressing care needs, and helping seniors to stay in their homes longer,” Coon writes.

“This community-based effort holds significant promise to support seniors at home through[out] New Brunswick, but requires adequate funding to match the success of the impressive initiative in Port Elgin.”

Coon concludes his report with a call for greater provincial investment in community-based health care.

“The goal for the Green Caucus is to ensure all New Brunswickers have access to proper healthcare, where they need it and when they need it. As Greens, we believe the solutions exist to heal our healthcare system. We just need the political will to implement them.”

To read Coon’s final report, click here.

For coverage of the town hall he held in Sackville, click here.

Upcoming community meeting

Mail out from MLA Megan Mitton on this week’s health-care meeting with Horizon Health