Nova Scotians' Views Included in Health Report

?PROVINCIAL HEALTH COUNCIL--Nova Scotians' Views Included in Health Report

The Provincial Health Council is pleased that the results of its public consultations on core health services were included in the Department of Health report Making Better Health Decisions for Nova Scotia.

"We are pleased that the department used the information we provided from Nova Scotians to them," said council chairperson Barbara Hart.

The department's evidence-based report does not prescribe a plan for health services. Instead, it outlines a planning process district health authorities can use as they set out services for their own areas. The report also assists with the transition of the health system from a regional to a district approach. It aims to provide planned and coordinated services, sustainable programs, an efficient system and health services at the community and individual levels as needed.

"We are pleased that they're inclusionary, not exclusionary and will be consulting more with community health boards and district health authorities than in past times," said Ms. Hart.

The report incorporated recent studies into health care, including the Provincial Health Council's report on core clinical services, Essential Health Services. This document, submitted to government in March, contains the results of public consultations the council conducted in January and February 2000.

Ms. Hart said this move by the Department of Health is a good start.

"The fact is, this is the beginning of a continuum, not the end," she said. "One of the really important things is to get from this step to primary health care, because Nova Scotians talked about that as well. Once core services are managed, then that will allow us to concentrate to a greater degree on primary health care, and education and prevention as we proceed through the continuum."