WHEREAS Northern Health and Interior Health seek to meet the needs of communities in terms of present services as well as planning for tomorrow; AND WHEREAS when Northern Health came into existence, community councils and their predecessor, hospital boards, ceased to exist: THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that UBCM request that BC health authorities support local community health advisory committees, consulting with them on a regular basis and using them as a source of wisdom and community experience for their deliberations.
MINISTRY OF HEALTH The Ministry of Health Ministry is committed to consulting with British Columbians on their health care needs, both through the current Health Authority Board structure and direct community involvement. A variety of processes can be used for community consultation. For example, each health authority is required per Section 8. 3 of the Health Authorities Act to hold regularly scheduled board meetings that are open to the public. Regular meetings of the Northern Health Authority Board include a public presentation session and an open session, in addition to an in-camera session. In the Interior Health Authority, board meetings are held bi-monthly at locations throughout the region, and there is at least one meeting in each of the four health service areas each year. Part of each Board meeting is open to the public. Other avenues for consultation include establishment of advisory committees community or stakeholder groups, regional consultations open to all, targeted consultations such as focus groups, public meetings and forums, stakeholder specific interviews, and written submissions, website surveys, and discussions with specific representatives of stakeholder groups e.g., municipal government officials. The following section outlines some of the ways the Northern Health Authority and the Interior Health Authority have created opportunities for consultation with residents and stakeholders in their regions. Northern Health Authority: -Has previously engaged in a Community Consultation process every two years where all residents have had the opportunity to participate, and provide input to health service planning through workshops, open houses, and other meetings held in communities across the region. -Held Community Consultations in 2007, with a particular focus on Mental Health and Addictions issues. Between May 23 and July 13, 2007, the Northern Health Authority sought feedback from local residents on how to improve addictions and mental health services across Northern BC. In all, 35 meetings were held across the North with both municipalities and Aboriginal communities. A public report on the Lets Talk About Addictions and Mental Health consultation was made available in Fall 2007. -Has a Consumer and Family Advisory Committee for Mental Health and Addictions that seeks input from stakeholders with respect to improvement and planning processes, through small community meetings and regional planning sessions. -Held three Aboriginal Health conferences in 2006 focused on improving the health of Aboriginal people living in the North. The conferences provided an opportunity for Northern Health Authority staff to network with local managers responsible for Aboriginal health, and to discuss ways to work together to improve the health of Aboriginal people in the North. Interior Health Authority: -Chief Executive Officer and Board Chair have specific time allocated on a regular basis to meet with elected officials from various levels of government federal, municipal, regional district, etc.. -Staff have met with community groups and participated in seniors forums to discuss proposed or planned initiatives or community health care projects, such as residential care or assisted living. -Chief Operating Officers meet regularly with community groups and elected officials. -Has a Mental Health Advisory committee in the Kootenay Boundary health service area, and similar committees are planned for the North, Central and South Okanagan, as well as the East Kootenay health service area beginning in September 2007. -A Resident Involvement Committee is being considered for the Tertiary Program in the Thompson Cariboo Shuswap health service area. Government recognizes the importance of ensuring its decisions about spending priorities reflect the communitys priorities and the publics needs. Thats why on September 28, 2006, the government began an unprecedented, historic conversation with British Columbians to hear their opinions on health and health care, and what their priorities are for the future. Conversation on Health received over 12,000 submissions from British Columbians through the website, email, toll-free phone line and at 74 community meetings making it one of the single largest health discussions ever held in B.C. Feedback gathered through the Conversation on Health will help set the direction the Province takes to strengthen our public health system for today and tomorrow, within the framework of the Canada Health Act.
LOCAL HEATH COMMITTEES Northern Health NH recognizes the interest of communities in contributing to the planning and development of health services at their local hospitals and health centers. Health care services are a major interest of all residents in a community and it is only natural that municipal elected officials should look for opportunities to work together with health authorities to ensure that the services that are delivered are a match for the needs of the community. Wherever possible, Northern Healths Health Service Administrators HSA and Site Administrators participate as active members on community health advisory committees, when those committees are given their mandate by their communitys municipal council. Not all municipal councils have established these committees at present; however, NH is willing to participate as an active partner should a council decide to establish one. FRASER HEALTH Fraser Health strongly believes in engaging with local communities to determine their health needs. We have created a Fraser HealthMunicipal Government Advisory Council, a forum for exploring, discussing and providing input on health and health-related policy issues for mutual interest within the Fraser Health community. The goal of the Fraser HealthMunicipal Government Advisory Council is to preserve and enhance governance level relationships and communications between Fraser Health and local municipal governments. This newly established council has met four times this year and is supporting the Board to advance its vision and mission of Better Health , Best in Health Care.