Nouvelles
Telegraph-Journal
p. A4, jeudi, 18 décembre 2008
Who's running health care?
New Brunswickers can see the impact of his neglect in the state of the provincial trauma network. After multiple delays, there is no network and no medical director, despite the fact one of
Mr. Murphy argues that he can't just appoint a medical director, because a committee is in charge of the hiring. He blames the most recent delay in the program on the creation of new health authorities. But it was Mr. Murphy who placed the decision in the hands of a committee and Mr. Murphy who created the new health authorities. The health minister could have put the needs of patients first; instead, he has played politics with health policy. He continues to evade responsibility for the consequences.
Mr. Murphy's creation of two regional health boards has thrown hospitals into chaos. Decisions on hiring have been postponed. Administrators waste time commuting when they should be managing services. Old rivalries over resources have been recast as a cultural struggle, and a predictable court challenge has distracted the Department of Health from its core responsibilities.
New Brunswickers are paying for this short-sightedness with their health. To cite just one example, the provincial heart centre's capacity has been reduced by a shortage of specialized staff. Patients in need of heart bypass surgery have been put on elective surgery waiting lists, while the minister panders to political constituencies.
How many policy bombs does Mr. Murphy have to drop before cabinet revokes his licence to meddle in medicine? Will another Donald Thomas have to wait in agony for 18 hours before a medical director is appointed to the trauma program? Must someone die on the waiting list for the cardiac centre to be properly staffed?
These are urgent issues, requiring urgent solutions - but the minister seems to care more about gerrymandering the health care system to shore up his political support.
People must be wondering whether Premier Shawn Graham approves of these reckless and senseless policies. It's a fair question. Is the premier prepared to pay the political cost of Mr. Murphy's decisions if New Brunswickers pay with their lives?