Private Healthcare Gets Nova Scotian Boost

[pfezziwig]

Faced with surgery wait lists of up to 2 years, the ruling Nova Scotian Conservative government is now trying to reduce those wait times by paying $1 million dollars to allow public sector doctors use the surgery facilities of the private healthcare company Scotia Surgery Inc. in Dartmouth.

The efforts are aimed at minor surgeries so as to free up the main hospitals for major surgeries and reduce backlogs there.

Finally, someone is actually doing something about the growing waiting lists rather than throughing more money at an ailing public system.

Not surprisingly the nurses union and NDP leader opposed this, they put their own 'beliefs' ahead of the seriously ill needing healthcare.

[Sean Hayward]

I agree with your point. The leaders of this country need to wake up and realize that the public system needs to be overhauled. Too bad that any political leader accused of supporting "American-style healthcare" is immediately forced to go on the defensive and prove that they are fully committed to the public system as it is. The goals of public healthcare are worthy, but the current system simply doesn't work. Perhaps we should look at a hybrid system like the one being explored in Nova Scotia.

[margrace]

Is the two year wait caused by a shortage of doctors?

[pfezziwig]

Is the two year wait caused by a shortage of doctors?

The shortage is from lack of public funding.

If governments pony up the money they can have the doctors in a heartbeat. Some hospitals are capable of doing more important surgeries like hip replacements, but their hospital budget restricts them from doing too many even though they have the staff and facilities there to do it.

[Topaz]

The shortage is from lack of public funding.

If governments pony up the money they can have the doctors in a heartbeat. Some hospitals are capable of doing more important surgeries like hip replacements, but their hospital budget restricts them from doing too many even though they have the staff and facilities there to do it.

I agree and alot of it is lack of funds, so we should all look to Alberta since they have more money than any ofthe provinces and they should have a first rate healthcare system out there, right? I'm not 100% sold on private healthcare because for one thing the patient has to pay what ever the private health care says and that what's happening in the US. The HMO`s only care about the money and not on the patient and alot of them have to use their credit card to pay for healthcare. The Feds brought in about 245 Billion in taxes, and there`s isn`t much left after their spending spree.

[Sean Hayward]

There are major problems with public healthcare systems, such as the Canadian system. There are also major problems with private healthcare systems, such as the American system. What we need to do is look at both and develop a hybrid system combining the best elements of both. That is the best way to solve our current healthcare problems.

[WCN]

Raising this old topic...

Health Minister Ron Liepert, who presented to the Tory caucus his preliminary plans for reforming the provincial health-care system.

Liepert refused to discuss the details of his early blueprint, but said he'll spill more information later this week.

"Wednesday, we'll let you know what the action plan for the next year on health care is," Liepert told reporters at the legislature.

http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/news/s...056&k=92554

It looks like we could perhaps see some major reform in Alberta with regards to the healthcare system. The PCs will roll out some of what they call major reforms this week and if the recent election was any sign they sure won't see any opposition. Perhaps this the start of an overall major reform in Alberta as I stated in an earlier thread but it should be interesting to see what happens.

Edited April 15, 2008 by WCN

[Shakeyhands]

Finally, someone is actually doing something about the growing waiting lists rather than throughing more money at an ailing public system.

The shortage is from lack of public funding.

Well you lost me...

[Canadian Blue]

Why not have a system similar to what the Netherlands and Switzerland has. Get the best benefits of the free market along with universal coverage.

http://www.civitas.org.uk/pdf/Switzerland.pdf

http://www.civitas.org.uk/pdf/dutch.pdf

[WCN]

Well today was the day the healthcare reforms were rolled out to the public and it seems the Alberta PC's chose the do-nothing approach to healthcare They say more details and a exact plan will come in a few months but still, I really don't think these changes will help.

Here's what they do immediately:

Eight items will be addressed immediately:

- Mandatory accreditation and reporting for all Alberta health service providers and facilities.

- Monitoring for compliance with province-wide infection prevention and control standards.

- Address workforce-related issues and support for continuing care.

- Expand educational spaces for physicians, registered nurses and laboratory and respiratory therapists.

- Develop a patient navigator system to improve access to health services and continuity of care.

- Expand the role of pharmacists in preventing and managing chronic diseases.

- Expand addiction and mental health services.

- Expand initiatives to promote healthy lifestyles and prevent disease.

http://calgary.ctv.ca/servlet/RTGAMArticle.../calgary.ctv.ca

(CTV Calgary)

[geoffrey]

The shortage is from lack of public funding.

If governments pony up the money they can have the doctors in a heartbeat. Some hospitals are capable of doing more important surgeries like hip replacements, but their hospital budget restricts them from doing too many even though they have the staff and facilities there to do it.

Please, tell us how you pull doctors out of your ass! You'd be very valuable.

Do you really think the unemployment rate among doctors is 30-40% and they are all just waiting for more public funding?

[WCN]

Well some more "reforms" in Alberta are coming with regards to healthcare. Looks like the province is going to create one health board, a super board to replace the current 9 health boards.

The new board will report directly to the minister, Liepert said, with community input provided by new community health councils.

The makeup of the new board will be announced later, but Liepert is appointing a seven-member transition team in the interim.

"The new ... model will clarify the roles and responsibilities that will help make Alberta's publicly funded health care system more effective and efficient," Stelmach said.

link: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/calgary/story/200...th-reforms.html

Seems that the government believes that this will help clear the bureaucracy in healthcare somewhat and help standardize the care in the province. But I still wonder how one board can deal with all the problems and issues for the entire province. Not to mention this doesn't really do anything about the doctor or nurse shortage. But we will see what other changes come in the following months.

Edited May 16, 2008 by WCN

[eyeball]

Finally, someone is actually doing something about the growing waiting lists rather than throughing more money at an ailing public system.

But the bottom line is, the public still pays for health care? Good.

Just don't let me catch some politician or CEO getting bumped to the head of some privatized queue. We'll probably need an oversight committee of some type to monitor this new system to ensure it isn't abused by insiders.