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Health system under microscope

Territory's health care system under review

Richard Gleeson & Kevin Wilson
Northern News Services

Inuvik (Feb 26/01) - While management consultant George Cuff was quietly doing his job reviewing the NWT's health care system, Health Minister Jane Groenewegen was under attack for hiring him.

Cuff, from Spruce Grove, Ab., is a veteran of more than 200 such reviews over the past 20 years and cautions anyone against expecting a predetermined outcome.

Background

According to documents released by Health Minister Jane Groenewegen's office, George B. Cuff and Associates are to conduct a review with the following "four broad objectives":

  • Optimize the effectiveness and efficiency of the NWT health and social services system today and for the future.
  • Establish appropriate accountability framework that clearly defines roles, responsibilities and authorities.
  • Recommend a governance structure that supports the accountability framework while respecting strategic directions of NWT governments
  • Recommend an appropriate financing framework for the health and social services system.

    Cuff and Associates will provide analysis and recommendations in the following areas:

  • Governance structure
  • Accountability


    • "We call a spade a spade," said Cuff.

    In the Legislature, Groenewegen was attacked for awarding the $300,000 contract to Cuff, without going to tender.

    "I can tell you that we felt that the Cuff and Associates team possessed the right mix of professional and experience credentials," said Groenewegen, accusing critics of "fearmongering."

    Leading the attack was Thebacha MLA Michael Miltenberger. He said the review takes direct aim at the NWT's health boards.

    "Five of the six points (in Groenewegen's member's statement) targeted the boards," he said.

    Doing the 'doable'

    Cuff said he plans to come up with recommendations on "what makes sense and that's doable and that's pragmatic."

    "At the end of the day we may very well come in with recommendations that the minister or the deputy think are wonderful according to their predesigned plan - if in fact they have one, which I don't think is the case - or they may decide that the recommendations that we're making in fact fly in the face of what they think is reality," he said.

    His report will be based on 300 interviews with a cross-section of people involved in health care, including nurses and doctors, the minister and deputy minister of health, non-government organizations, and the chairs and CEOs and staff of the nine health boards.

    Cuff has already interviewed Premier Stephen Kakfwi and will meet with MLAs who want to express their views over the next two weeks.

    He did suggest things might not be working well in the NWT.

    "The question is, do you need a board for every community, or do you need some sort of advisory mechanism that allows communities to advise regional boards as to the level of service that they need," said Cuff.

    He did caution against painting him as being opposed to boards.

    "I promote board governance. I happen to believe in it."