Health offers new alternative to VON service withdrawal
Fredericton (GNB) December 4, 2015 – The Department of Health will implement new initiatives and agreements to ensure health-care services previously delivered by VON Canada will continue to be available for New Brunswickers.
Vitalité Health Network, one of the province’s health authorities, will soon provide provincial services related to the prevention, diagnosis and intervention of fetal alcohol syndrome disorder.
The network will also ensure the continuity of nursing care at the Pierre Caissie Center in Moncton, a residential program for providing assessment services to youth with challenging needs.
“We are pleased to see an agreement has been reached for Vitalité Health Network to offer these important services to New Brunswickers,” said Health Minister Victor Boudreau. “We are confident that we will have this agreement in place soon so there will be no interruption of services.”
Both of these health-care services were provided by VON Canada. The service provider recently announced it is ceasing operations in New Brunswick and five other provinces.
Senior citizens requiring services such as foot care or other home health-care services are encouraged to contact their nearest Extra-Mural Program office.
"Concerned seniors and their families can immediately call upon the Extra-Mural Program for a health assessment,” said Boudreau. “A nurse can make a visit to assess the level of need and help determine if they need ongoing care from Extra-Mural, or they will help link them to a community service provider.”
The Extra-Mural Program, also known as the “hospital without walls,” provides home health-care services to New Brunswickers of all ages in their homes and communities. The services are publicly-funded and provided by the regional health authorities.
New Brunswickers using workplace seasonal flu and wellness programs as well as pre-travel clinics can receive immunization vaccines from family physicians, nurse practitioners and, in some cases, pharmacists.
The Department of Social Development has determined that only one of its day programs has been affected by the withdrawal of VON services. Social workers are in the process of making alternate arrangements for about 11 clients.
Programs:
- Healthy Baby and Me: funded through Public Health Agency of Canada;
- Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Disorder program: Vitalité Health Network;
- Provincial Youth Treatment: Vitalité Health Network;
- Workplace Seasonal Flu and Wellness programs, and pre-travel clinics: New Brunswickers can see family physician, nurse practitioners and, in some cases, pharmacists;
- Foot care (seniors): Extra-Mural Program;
- Adult Day Program: Department of Social Development; and
- Veterans’ Assessments, Veterans’ Visiting Nursing and Veterans’ Foot Care: Veterans Affairs Canada.
