July 15, 1997
(Health)

Joan Marie Aylward, Minister of Health, announced today that a request for proposals will be issued to identify a management team for the Western Health Care Corporation (WHCC). The board has had difficulty in recruiting a CEO and the preliminary findings of the operational review indicate the WHCC should engage a management team under a contractual agreement for the next three years.

"In light of the significant financial problems and operating deficits of the WHCC, there is a need to take decisive and immediate action," said the minister. "This team will work to improve the operation of WHCC, provide stability and restore public confidence in the health system in this region. The preliminary discussions with the consultant group also reinforced the many strengths of the WHCC, such as community health, long term care, and our dedicated and skilled staff."

Bruce Legrow, chair of the Western Regional Health Board, said: "We are supportive of today's announcement. We will continue to work with the Department of Health to improve on our strengths, address our weaknesses and follow a direction which ensures quality health services for the people of the region."

The management team will consist of a chief executive officer, a chief financial officer, and medical director. The major responsibilities of the team will be: to carry out the executive management responsibilities for the WHCC Board; to introduce measures to improve utilization of acute care services at Western Memorial Regional Hospital; to develop a regional management team within the WHCC to implement other recommendations in the report of John Atkinson Health Care Professionals Inc. including introducing and monitoring new standards of medical care, particularly in rural areas of the Western Region.

The minister said she hoped the new management team would be in place, sometime in the fall.

Contact: Glenn Bruce, Director of Communications, (709) 729-4062.