Letters | How will citizens voice health concerns?

Published Tuesday April 1st, 2008 in the New Brunswick Telegraph Journal
Appeared on page A4

The recent changes to health-care administration in New Brunswick have provoked a dialogue on health that has not been seen in some time, making people sit up and pay attention. As a now former volunteer Board member, the announcement on March 11, 2008 came as somewhat of a relief after almost a year of rumours and speculation.

Like many others, I'm not sure how the proposed changes are going to affect care in New Brunswick. In a world where we use terms like transparency and accountability, centralization of decision making is a huge concern.

How will an ordinary person voice their concerns? Health care should never be about politics, it is about the lives of ordinary people. Canadians are proud of our universal health-care system. We want it preserved and strengthened. Many forget the 10 year agreement between the provinces and the federal government a few years ago. Along with that agreement came increased funding for the system and the promise of accountability for it. I will continue my volunteer work, just as I did prior to the Board appointment in 2006, using whatever means available from an ordinary person who has lived with a serious illness for more than 25 years and credits the health-care system for her life.

LINDA WILHELM

Midland, Kings Co.