Health Minister Dorothy Shephard, right, and Saint Croix MLA Kathy Bockus, left, get a tour of the Saint Andrews Wellness Centre from Annette Harland. (Image: Brad Perry)
New Brunswick communities are being invited to play a more active role in the health-care system.
The province’s new health plan, released last week, has several initiatives to encourage a more collaborative approach.
Health Minister Dorothy Shephard said that includes getting communities more involved in efforts to recruit physicians, nurses, and other health-care professionals.
“We need for communities to take back a little bit of their power because they are the ones who can sell their communities the best. They are the ones who know what quality of life we have here and what others could expect,” Shephard said during an announcement in Saint Andrews on Monday.
Shephard was in town to visit the recently-opened Saint Andrews Wellness Centre, which she described as a “crown jewel.”
The centre is located in the W.C. O’Neill Arena, which is owned by the town, and was developed through a financial partnership with the Sir James Dunn Foundation.
“Now, local residents have access to a centre with two physicians, physiotherapy services, and other rotating medical service programs,” Shephard said. “I look forward to seeing more examples of this kind of model in communities throughout the province.”
Shephard said by taking a more collaborative approach to health care and working more closely with communities, they can identify and address gaps in services, make the best possible use of human resources, and reduce emergency department visits.
Follow
