New Brunswick Telegraph Journal
Published September 2, 2008

Allow people more health-care input

It is interesting that Health Minister Michael Murphy intends to "wrest away a health-care system from a group of special interests and give it back to the patient."
I have yet to hear how the new structure is going to involve the people in N.B., all of whom have the potential to be a patient at some point. In the past one had the option of attending a monthly meeting to learn about health-care delivery in their region.
Some believe this was not effective but it was a way to engage. You could learn what latest equipment had been purchased, the wait times for long-term care, bed occupancy, how much money was being spent in our region, etc.
The information provided may not have been as comprehensive as many would have liked, it was information nonetheless.
N.B. patients need openness and transparency. Minister Murphy can pat himself on the back all he likes, but the real assessment of his success needs to come from the people of our province.
LINDA WILHELM
Midland, Kings Co.