Spotlight on the Elephant in the Room Part 1

Monday on my Facebook feed I saw a head line from 98.1 The Tide (St. Stephen Radio Station). “Concerned Citizens Say They Want their Own Health Plan for CCH.” http://thetide.ca/news/1875008512/concerned-citizens-group-say-they-want-their-own-health-plan-cch 

Excerpt from article:

Co-Chair of CCCC, John Gardner says enough is enough, and the group has now put a proposal on the table for government, asking the authorities to work with them to develop a plan for the hospital to move forward, "If the authorities are not willing to work with us, then we're requesting the Premier to instruct Horizon Health to turn over the [Charlotte County] Hospital's operating budget to the residents of Charlotte County. We want to go back to an independent board, who will operate the hospital, independent from Horizon Health."
Gardner claims, if this goes through, it will be big for rural New Brunswick, calling us the "canary in the coalmine" as everyone is watching Charlotte County right now.
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Charlotte County residents, just put a spotlight on the elephant in the room!

I would be surprised if other areas/residents/hospitals/facilities have not thought the same thing. 

http://globalnews.ca/news/2964451/community-group-asks-for-control-of-charlotte-county-hospital-to-be-returned-to-local-board/?sf37014186=1

Excerpt From Article:

Health Minister Victor Boudreau said he doesn’t see that happening.

“I think that would be taking a step back in the way our hospitals were governed in the past,” Boudreau said. In “my” opinion, he doesn’t even believe this. Mr. Boudreau, your eyes gave you away. You might want to work on that.  

#VictorBoudreau, how would this option, be taking a step back for ANY health care facility in the Province of New Brunswick?

How could communities do any worse than what Horizon Health Network has been doing since 2008? Lose services to a hospital, lose the hospital all together? I have more faith in the residents of Charlotte County taking care of their hospital, than anyone else.

No one else is fighting for Charlotte County Hospital harder than residents of Charlotte County. The Premier is not fighting for it. Victor Boudreau is not fighting for it. Horizon Health is not fighting for it. MLA’s are not fighting for it.

Have Charlotte County Residents heard a peep out of MLA John Ames and Minister Rick Doucet since Saturday?

 Have they called out Victor Boudreau publicly after what transpired Saturday? Victor Boudreau had no issue throwing them under the bus publicly. Are they hiding under a rock? Did someone remove hands from the puppets?

Of course Victor Boudreau is going to “tell residents” that it would be a step back.  

Charlotte County…It is possible! Victor Boudreau knows it. Horizon Health knows it.

Stay tuned for Part 2 of “Spotlight on the Elephant in the Room.”

Discontent in Charlotte County

Timeline:                                                                                                   

Friday September 23, 2016 during the day – members of C4 (Concerned Citizens of Charlotte County) met with MLA John Ames, Minister of Health Victor Boudreau and also reps of Horizon Health (apparently Dr. Edouard Hendriks)

Friday September 23, 2016 evening – A News Release was distributed to media sources. It was posted on Horizon Health Website, CBC news had it and St. Croix Courier received it. Obviously Horizon Health Network was the source of the News Release since it was on their website.

Saturday September 24^th, 2016 2pm – The Town Hall Meeting took place for Charlotte County Residents. MLA John Ames and Minister Rick Doucet were present for this information session. Both of them spoke during the meeting. See what BOTH of them said in front of Charlotte County Residents.

https://my.pcloud.com/publink/show?code=5Z8OH1ZxG5F6hC4vOBZlx15Z6sF3K4urnAyxBL8zst7ktya0nnbV

September 24, 2016 CBC News, last night             http://www.cbc.ca/player/play/772625987904 The segment regarding Charlotte County Hospital begins in the segment at 3 Minutes and 30 seconds.

Minister Victor Boudreau - only procedures that use local anesthesia will be done at CCH, citing those are the types of surgeries mainly done in the region.

No NEW staff is being sought by the Province at the moment.

http://atlantic.ctvnews.ca/video?clipId=958760

September 25^th, 2016 -While working on this article. http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/charlotte-county-hospital-surgeries-general-anesthesia-stop-1.3777697

Boudreau has thrown several people under the bus, regarding this issue.

If I were MLA John Ames or Minister Rick Doucet, I would be livid, right now with Victor Boudreau. MLA John Ames represents Charlotte-Campobello, Minister Rick Doucet represents Fundy Isles-Saint John West. http://nbliberal.ca/provincial-mlas/ They were either puppets or a part of the lie. Neither is good for residents.

My opinion, the common problem seems to be Minister Victor Boudreau. Yes, the reality is there are many problems within the government of New Brunswick.

McGarry (CEO of Horizon), called him out over Twitter. http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/victor-boudreau-wishes-horizon-ceo-had-called-before-tweeting-1.3025098 It was not too long after McGarry was announcing he was retiring.

Victor Boudreau in August 2016 https://ca.news.yahoo.com/victor-boudreau-hopes-charlotte-county-101500833.html He threw Horizon Health Care under the bus.

Premier Brian Gallant, this is your circus and these are your monkeys.

News Release Regarding CCH is Damage Control

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/no-change-service-charlotte-county-hospital-1.3776908

https://www.facebook.com/stcroixcourier/?fref=ts&ref=br_tf&qsefr=1

http://en.horizonnb.ca/home/media-centre/horizon-news/2016-09-23-services-to-remain-unchanged-at-charlotte-county-hospital.aspx

Many residents around Charlotte County are probably a buzz tonight, because there was a press release. Above you will see 3 places I found the news release on.

It sounds GREAT. That's what Charlotte County Residents want to hear. Right?

Yes, I am going to pop this balloon. You can judge me all you want. I can handle it.

I find it fitting that a news release was posted on the eve before the Town Hall Meeting by Concerned Citizens of Charlotte County was taking place.

FYI the news release was obviously done by those being criticized regarding the decision. MLA John Ames, Health Minister Victor Boudreau and Horizon Health Network.

Why would Charlotte County residents come to a town hall meeting after this press release? It sounds GREAT. This is what Charlotte County wants. Right? Ummmm no.

I think there is more it than what is in News Release.

Here is what caught my eye the very first time I read the News Release

"Services at the Charlotte County Hospital will continue as usual," said Dr. Edouard Hendriks, vice-president of medical, academic and research affairs for Horizon in a news release.  

"That means the emergency department, in-patient services, dialysis, operating rooms — everything currently in place will continue to operate as it does today."

Guess what....that means the OR is running part-time. From what I have gathered, that means the OR is operational 2 days a week.

Residents of Charlotte County. Do now have the mindset that the News Release means you have all the information and you do not need to attend tomorrow's Town Hall Meeting taking place at 2p.m.

I don't know what is going to be discussed at the meeting tomorrow. I don't know what information is being provided/presented  to residents tomorrow. If I had the finances, I would have had a plane ticket from Atlanta to Saint John to be there for the meeting.

Facebook Page

New Brunswicker's Two-Cents now has a Facebook Page. http://www.facebook.com/nbtwocents/

New Brunswick what are your two-cents?

Getting Real: There's no plan in the economic plan

A couple of weeks ago New Brunswick’ Economic Growth Plan was released. The document is 24 pages long. Where’s the plan Mr. Premier?

 http://www2.gnb.ca/content/dam/gnb/Departments/eco-bce/Promo/Economic%20Growth%20Plan/PDFs/EconomicGrowthPlan2016.pdf

People, Innovation, Capital, Infrastructure, and Agility are key components of the plan.

Message from the Premier: “Our government understands what matters to you and all of New Brunswicker’s.”

“We know how important creating jobs, growing the economy, and securing health care and education are to New Brunswickers and their families. We are working hard on these priorities.”

Do you really Mr. Premier?

The Vision for New Brunswick: 2020 (page 5)

“If the New Brunswick Economic Growth Plan is successful, what are we hoping to achieve in the short term?”

Mr. Premier what do you mean by “IF” this plan is successful? The very first sentence under this plan does not give me assurance you are confident in your own economic plan. You do not start off with the word “if” in any plan. When leaders do not show confidence in their own plan, do not expect people to jump on board and get warm fuzzy feelings.   

“What will a growing and vibrant New Brunswick look like in 2020?”

The above image is what is in the plan, apparently for short-term.

Did I miss something? I don’t see ANY short term plan/goals. I see words giving me information for each category, but this is NOT any sort of short-term plan or goal within the categories of People, Innovation, Capital, Infrastructure, and Agility.

Why? THERE IS NO BAR! There is no HOW the Province plans to achieve the goals.

 This is not a new concept. This is in the business world, athlete’s world, and all aspects of LIFE.

The goals should be attainable and realistic.

How should a plan look?

Current Goals (within the year)

                List of goals under each category - People, Innovation, Capital, Infrastructure and Agility that is attainable within the first year. Then disclose HOW you plan to reach each and every goal you have set to achieve, within this first year.

Short-Term Goals (within 1-5 years)

List of goals under each category - People, Innovation, Capital, Infrastructure and Agility that is attainable within 1-5 years. Then disclose HOW you plan to reach each and every goal you have set to achieve, within this time frame.

  

Long-Term goals (5 plus years)  

List of goals under each category - People, Innovation, Capital, Infrastructure and Agility that is attainable within 5 plus years. Then disclose HOW you plan to reach each and every goal you have set to achieve, within this time frame.

The Vision for New Brunswick: Beyond 2020 (page 6)

Again, there are “goals.” However, absolutely no thought in how the Province is going to attain the goals they have set.

 Mr. Premier HOW are you going to grow the work force in the 1-5 year time frame? HOW do you plan to achieve an innovative, competitive and an entrepreneurial economy? “Fostering” is NOT going to cut it. HOW are you going to attract private-sector investment in the Province?

Selected Opportunities being pursued (page 9):

Smart grid, Boosting new farmers, Cybersecurity, Blueberry Development, home-based work, business support services, marijuana, local food and beverage strategy, tourism, maple syrup and maple syrup tourism, Energy East, Sisson Molybdenum/Tungsten Mine are all listed.

Again it comes down to the HOW for each of these categories. How does the Province plan to achieve goals under each of these sections they have highlighted on, for Current Year Goals, Short-Term and Long-Term Goals?

Page 14 starts the talk of “People: Strengthen our Workforce.”

“Government must focus on attracting talent:”

It lists, “by keeping New Brunswickers here; by bringing back expatriate New Brunswickers; and by attracting new Canadians to the Province.”

I fall under the “expatriate New Brunswicker.” Mr. Premier HOW do you expect to keep, bring or attract New Brunswickers?  I have read this economic plan. There is nothing in this 24 page document that is attracting me to come back to New Brunswick, at this moment in time.

Would a plan like this be acceptable if a company, start up business presented this to the Province of New Brunswick, a bank, investors etc.? Absolutely not.

So, why would you expect, this plan to be acceptable for residents of New Brunswick (current, expats and new), or potential businesses/companies wanting to start up or come to New Brunswick? Because……it’s pretty? Get Real! 

Expenses: RHA B Zone 7

Here are the numbers for RHA B Zone 7

Update: I received a question via twitter “RHA and RRS? can you elaborate on what those zone names refer to?”

RHA (Regional Health Authority). There are 2 RHA’s in the Province of New Brunswick. Vitalité and Horizon Health Network.

RRS (Régie Régionale Santé) is French (Vitalité Network).

RHA (Regional Health Authority) is English (Horizon Health Network).

The map below shows the zones.

Links to other zones:

RRS A Zone 1   RRS A Zone 4    RRS A Zone 5  RRS A Zone 6

RHA B Zone 1  RHA B Zone 2  RHA B Zone 3  RHA A Zone 7

Expenses: RHA B Zone 3

Here are the numbers for RHA B Zone 3

Update: I received a question via twitter “RHA and RRS? can you elaborate on what those zone names refer to?”

RHA (Regional Health Authority). There are 2 RHA’s in the Province of New Brunswick. Vitalité and Horizon Health Network.

RRS (Régie Régionale Santé) is French (Vitalité Network).

RHA (Regional Health Authority) is English (Horizon Health Network).

The map below shows the zones.

Links to other zones:
RRS A Zone 1   RRS A Zone 4    RRS A Zone 5  RRS A Zone 6

RHA B Zone 1  RHA B Zone 2  RHA B Zone 3  RHA A Zone 7