Health-needs assessment in progress in Saint John
(GNB HEALTH) September 18, 2013 - Work has begun on a
health-needs assessment for the Saint John area.
"Our government is continuing work to improve access to primary
health care in New Brunswick," said Health Minister Hugh Flemming.
"An advisory committee has been established and will lead this
assessment to engage with the community in identifying health-care
needs and how services can be best delivered. Once we better
understand the health-care needs of the Saint John area, we will be
able to plan for the delivery of primary health-care services that
the community requires."
This committee includes representation from community partners.
The Department of Health will provide funding for the initiative
and will help Horizon Health Network gather data and population
health information about the region.
"Our focus remains on patients and their families," said John
McGarry, president and chief executive officer of Horizon Health
Network. "By engaging the community, we expect to receive good
information. It will help us improve our response to the health
needs of people from the Saint John area."
This is the fifth community health-needs assessment to be
announced as part of the Primary Health Care Framework for New
Brunswick commitment to carry out 10 such assessments by the spring
of 2014.
The community health assessment for Oromocto is now complete and
the executive summary is available on the Horizon Health Network
website. Horizon Health Network is reviewing the Fredericton
assessment. The Department of Health announced last spring that
assessments are also underway in the St. Stephen and
Petitcodiac/Salisbury areas. The community advisory committees in
these areas have been well established, and assessments are
scheduled to be completed by the end December.
-30-
For more information contact:
Sarah Bustard, communications, Department of Health, 1-506-453-6797.