Michelle DaCruz
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (May 10/02) - Saying he wanted to keep the public informed as to the progress of the NWT's Health and Social Services action plan, Health Minister Michael Miltenberger held a press conference Wednesday.

Mark Cleveland, deputy minister of Health and Social Services, said the department's focus since the action plan was unveiled in January has been to improve system-wide functioning, whereas the next stage will shift the focus to improving services to people.

The plan outlined 45 actions that integrated eight years of reports, both internal and by independent bodies, on how to improve the functioning of the department as a whole by 2005.

"The focus of the plan was to improve services to people, and staff, to strengthen the system-wide management, encourage support for trustees, and build accountability," said Cleveland.

Since January the department has reached their goal of establishing a joint leadership council that will provide guidance to the whole system.

The council is composed of Miltenberger, Cleveland, and the chairs of each community authority or board.

Also, the joint senior management committee made of senior board managers, responsible to co-ordinate operational issues was established.

The job shuffle within the department in late April was also promised within the plan.

"Restructuring to increase the clarity of goals and responsibility within the department and shift the focus of the department to monitoring, evaluation, and reporting," said Cleveland of the decision to reassess 30 jobs department wide.

Realigning the nine health boards is also under way.

To date there are seven authorities, Hay River, Dogrib, Fort Smith, Deh Cho, Stanton, Yellowknife, and Inuvik.

The previous Lutsel K'e and Deninu boards have been dissolved and are now in partnership with the Yellowknife Authority.

"The funding will flow through Yellowknife, but each community will have its own structure and input on decisions that have to be made on the community level," said Miltenberger. Of their projected target dates, Miltenberger admitted to missing the deadline on establishing a streamlined process for transferring employees within the department.

"We've slipped on that one," admitted Miltenberger.

In addition, he added that the GNWT is not looking at the plan as a cost-cutting measure, but an exercise in improving department efficiency.

During the next six months, the department promises to establish a core services document that will identify what services are provided and which services are available in each community.

Also, a self-care handbook that will help people decide when to contact a health care professional and a 24-hour phone line to answer health questions.