Reducing the Number of Health Boards in Nova Scotia
Essay by airen21 • January 25, 2016 • Coursework • 325 Words (2 Pages) • 1,243 Views
Reducing The Number Of Heath Boards In Nova Scotia
Airen E. MacDonald (3246221)
Athabasca University (ENGL 255 Group session #2)
Reducing The Number Of Health Boards In Nova Scotia
The healthcare system in Nova Scotia has been seeing major changes over the last year, with the drastic reduction in the number of health boards and healthcare unions. Changes to the structure of the healthcare system have raised both alarm and intrigue with the people of the province, especially with healthcare workers. The Liberal government proposed a bill to amalgamate the nine health boards within the province to one all-inclusive board, while maintaining the IWK children’s hospital as a separate entity. Along with the amalgamation of the health boards the Liberals also asked that the Unions who represent all healthcare workers in the province be reduced to one lone bargaining unit. This bill came into fruition in late 2015, passed by the majority Liberal government, backed by the Progressive Conservatives. With the support of the two parties, the opposition from the New Democratic Party fell short. For healthcare workers within the province the changes are both positive and negative. With one inclusive health board, seniority now spans province wide and isn’t contained to one board, thus increasing the portability of healthcare workers throughout the province when looking for jobs or job change. This change has seen the reduction, reorganizing and closing of departments within certain hospitals. Job loss, relocation of staff to different departments and hospitals, as well wage changes have also occurred. As a nurse working within this changing system I am anxious to see how it will all come together and how my colleagues and myself will be affected by such change. The healthcare system within Nova Scotia is always changing and evolving, and as time passes with this bill in place we will see if the outcome will benefit Nova Scotians or be a hindrance to the Provincial healthcare system in its entirety.
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