Elected representatives from Restigouche and Vitalité Health Network working together to tackle health care system challenges
Campbellton, Wednesday, September 7, 2022 – Members of the Restigouche Regional Service Commission (Restigouche RSC) and leaders of Vitalité Health Network met in Campbellton on Thursday, September 1, 2022. The purpose of the meeting was to strengthen the collaboration between the stakeholders, to find solutions to the region’s health care system challenges.
From left to right: Maxime Saulnier (Vitalité Health Network); Brad Mann (RSC Chair); Dr. France Desrosiers (President and CEO; Vitalité Health Network); Jean-Guy Levesque (Atholville); Burt Paulin (St-Jean-Baptiste); Normand Pelletier (Dalhousie); Gaëtan Pelletier (Charlo); Guy Chiasson (Balmoral); Ian Comeau (Campbellton); Allan Dickson (Tide Head); Eric Gagnon (Kedgwick); Allan Good (Dalhousie Jctn); Brigitte Sonier-Ferguson (Vitalité Health Network)
Absent: Mario Pelletier (Eel River Dundee) and Barry Firlotte (Chaleur)
Everyone present described the meeting as productive. “It is clear that the Restigouche RSC, municipal representatives and the Network want to work together to achieve concrete results in health care for our people. Community engagement is one of my top priorities and this initiative is part of that,” said Dr. France Desrosiers, President and CEO of the Network.
The Restigouche RSC was also very satisfied with the meeting. “We are pleased to see Vitalité Health Network’s openness to hear the concerns of the community and implement initiatives to improve health care in our region,” said Brad Mann, Chair of the Restigouche RSC.
The priorities are clear for the Restigouche RSC and the Network: recruiting and retention of health professionals (especially nurses and physicians) must be strengthened and actions to improve the health and wellness of the people must be identified. To achieve this, the parties agreed to create two advisory committees. An advisory committee comprised of municipal representatives, Restigouche RSC members and the Director of Hospital Activities at Campbellton Regional Hospital, Maxime Saulnier, will be established. “The Network and community stakeholders must work together to develop recruiting strategies that will help attract health professionals and their families to the Restigouche region,” said the President and CEO. “With this committee, it will be possible to ensure an ongoing dialogue between community leaders and the Network about the priorities, including recruiting,” she said. Another advisory committee will also be created to develop solutions collaboratively with all stakeholders, to tackle the health issues of Restigouche communities. It will be comprised of the region’s citizens, as well as health professionals from St. Joseph Community Health Centre and Public Health.
The challenges in health and recruiting health staff remain significant for the region but, by working together, we can find long-term solutions for our people. Meetings with stakeholders from all Francophone regions will soon be organized to keep the dialogue with the Network open, to find solutions to current challenges.
