Health and Community Services
December 22, 2014
Focusing On Primary Health Care
Provincial Government Provides Update on Review of Primary Health Care
Ongoing consultations to review the delivery of primary health care in Newfoundland and Labrador have resulted in useful feedback with over 300 individuals attending face-to-face sessions, 100 providing information via email and over 100 individuals and groups expressing interest in attending the Premier’s Summit on Health Care on January 14, 2015, in St. John’s. In addition to these traditional methods of consultation, there were over 319 online interactions and nearly 2,000 page views of the new interactive Dialogue App.
“We have heard from residents that they want their voices to be a part of the ongoing discussion around our health care system. Through a partnership between the Departments of Health and Community Services, and Seniors, Wellness and Social Development along with the Office of Public Engagement, we embarked on an ambitious and far-reaching consultation process. Through face-to-face sessions, as well as online and other correspondence we have heard from residents about how they would like to see primary health care evolve into the future. This feedback will provide a rich backdrop for the upcoming Premier’s Summit on Health Care.”
- The Honourable Steve Kent, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health and Community Services
Primary health care is the day-to-day care needed to protect, maintain, and restore an individual’s health. For most people, it is both their first point of contact with the health care system and the health care services they use most often. Through the regional forums, online feedback and the innovative Dialogue App, residents have had the opportunity to speak about the issues that matter most to them in the area of primary health care.
“This has been a tremendous opportunity to engage with the public like never before on key primary health care issues. By taking the time to visit each region and engage in meaningful dialogue with residents, we have gained valuable insight and ideas for our health care system. I would encourage residents to continue to provide feedback through our website in the coming weeks as we lead up to the summit in January.”
- Minister Kent
More information on the primary health care consultations is available at: www.health.gov.nl.ca/summit/ or call 1-844-729-6310. Residents are also encouraged to join the discussion regarding their primary health care experiences by using the Dialogue App interactive online engagement tool available at: dialogueapp.gov.nl.ca.
QUICK FACTS
- The Provincial Government embarked on a broad consultation program to review the delivery of primary health care in the province. Feedback obtained will lay the foundation for the Premier’s Summit on Health Care taking place in St. John’s on January 14, 2015.
- To date, 300 individuals have attended face-to-face sessions, 100 have provided information via email and over 100 individuals and groups have expressed interest in attending the summit. In addition to these traditional methods of consultation, there were over 319 online interactions and nearly 2,000 page views of the new interactive Dialogue App.
- Primary health care is the day-to-day care needed to protect, maintain, and restore an individual’s health. For most people, it is both their first point of contact with the health care system and includes the health care services they use most often.
- Face-to-face forums were held around the province to obtain feedback. Residents were also encouraged to visit the department’s website to provide feedback electronically or via phone.
- More information on the primary health care consultations is available at: www.health.gov.nl.ca/summit/ or by calling 1-844-729-6310 and residents can access the Dialogue App interactive online engagement tool at: dialogueapp.gov.nl.ca.
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Media contact:
| Hugh Donnan Director of Communications Department of Health and Community Services 709-729-1377, 725-6511 hughdonnan@gov.nl.ca |
2014 12 22 10:30 a.m.