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Questions & Answers
1. What are the health forums? What is their purpose?
Health forums are meetings of key health stakeholders who will come together
to openly discuss the future of our health system this fall. The overriding
goal is to come to a consensus around the principles which will guide health
decision making in the future.
2. Who is hosting the health forums?
The Minister of Health and Community Services is co-hosting the health forums
with the regional Strategic Social Plan chairs.
3. Where will the forums be held and when?
The forums will be held throughout the province as follows:
Grand Falls-Windsor - October 3
Clarenville - October 5
St. Anthony - October 10
Corner Brook - October 16
Happy Valley-Goose Bay - October 23
St. John's - October 29
Salmonier - October 31
There will also be a provincial forum in November in Gander.
4. Who can participate in the forums?
The forums are ''by invitation only''. Groups representing all aspects of the
health sector, including community groups who represent the citizens of the
province, will be invited by the Minister to take part in the forum discussions
in their region. Examples of the kind of representatives who will be invited
include health professionals like doctors, nurses, other allied health
professionals; members of regional Strategic Social Plan committees;
members of community organizations like the Canadian Mental Health
Association; members of our regional health boards; members of Town
Councils; MHAs; and so on. About 40 people will attend each of the
forums.
5. Why is there no forum for the general public? How can the public make their
views known?
It is impossible for everyone to be able to participate in the forums themselves.
That is why we are ensuring we invite people to the actual forums who will represent
the community's interests in health. However, we are ensuring that every member
of the public is able to make their views known on the future of our health system
by providing a document called Reaching a Consensus and Planning Ahead which
discusses the many issues facing the health system and poses a number of
questions to which the general public can respond. For those who do not
wish to read this detailed document, a summary of the issues is available
in a brochure format. Anyone requesting the document in alternate format
such as on cassette should contact the communication division of the
Department of Health and Community Services at 709-729-2788.
6. How can I get copies of the document or brochure, and how do I provide
my comments?
You can request copies of the document by writing to us at Health Forums,
c/o Department of Health and Community Services, P.O. Box 8700, St. John's,
NF A1B 4J6; by checking our web site at www.gov.nf.ca; by e-mailing us at
healthforums@gov.nl.ca; or by
phoning us at 1-800-405-2570. Copies will also be distributed to health
boards, and to Government Service Centres in St. John's, Harbour Grace,
Clarenville, Gander, Grand Falls-Windsor, Corner Brook, Stephenville,
Happy Valley-Goose Bay, Grand Bank, Port aux Basques, Lewisporte, St.
Anthony and Stephenville.
You can also provide your comments to us in writing at the address above, or
by e-mailing us at the address above.
7. Will you accept comments via telephone?
We prefer if you write your comments down and mail them to us either through
Canada Post or electronically via e-mail. If you have difficulty with these
mediums, we would be pleased to take down your comments via telephone at
1-709-729-0624.
8. When is the deadline for providing comments on the future
of the health system?
Your comments are appreciated throughout the months of September, October and
November 2001.
9. Will the Minister report back to the public on what was learned from both
the forums and the general public feedback?
Yes. The Minister will report publicly at the end of the provincial forum in November.
10. Have other provinces gone through similar consultation processes like this
one on the future of their health systems? How does this tie in with the
Romanow Commission into the Future of Health Care in Canada?
Yes. The Saskatchewan government appointed the Fyke Commission to look into
health care in that province, Quebec appointed the Claire Commission, and
Ontario just launched its consultation process as well. Commissioner Roy
Romanow is aware of our provincial health forums. Our consultation process
will enable us to have more focused input into the Commission into the Future
of Health Care in Canada led by Mr. Romanow.
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