South West Health
Serving Shelburne, Yarmouth and Digby Counties
Statement / Letter to Editor
Thursday, December 3, 2009
The Board of Directors of the South West Nova District Health Authority is made up of volunteers of various backgrounds from communities across Digby, Shelburne and Yarmouth counties.
Like all Nova Scotia health districts, South West Health is governed by a Board that is responsible for the overall strategic and policy directions of the organization. Therefore, it is unusual for a Board like ours to become involved in staffing issues such as the discipline or dismissal of an employee.
Our Board chose to become involved in the Nurse Practitioner issue on Long and Brier Islands because we were seriously concerned by suggestions the management of South West Health may have acted in an unfair or inappropriate way toward a former employee.
Our Board was given the opportunity to learn more about the events that led to this situation. Given the facts, our Board firmly believes the management of South West Health acted fairly, appropriately and professionally at all times.
All past and present staff of South West Health need to know their management team is required to respect their privacy, no matter what. This requirement for confidentiality extends to the Board of Directors.
We understand this situation has been difficult for the community, especially since the public does not have the benefit of knowing all the facts and circumstances that led to this decision. Understandably, there has been plenty of speculation and anxiety caused by South West Health’s commitment to respect personal privacy.
South West Health carefully followed the progressive discipline process required by the collective agreement, and even extended the probationary period to allow ample opportunity to work with the employee to create a successful employment relationship. It is important to note any unionized employee can appeal a decision of their employer if they feel they were treated unfairly or dismissed without good reason. This appeal, started by the employee, allows an independent arbitrator to look at all the facts and identify wrongdoing if any exists.
Our Board of Directors has full confidence in the management of South West Health. It is our hope that we now move forward together, and South West Health can focus on our number one commitment of providing safe and quality health services to all the communities we serve.
Gerald Pottier, Board Chair
South West District Health Authority
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
From Live Earth
Hello ,
LiveEarth TV Debuts Live Earth TV debuts today! Find out how you can make a difference and participate in Live Earth's 2010 Global Event. This is the first of several Live Earth TV webisodes leading up to the Run for Water on April 18th, 2010. Episode 1 features video from partners Global Water Challenge and Blue Legacy, with music by Paul Dateh & Ken Belcher and introduces Live Earth TV host Shira Lazar.
Click here to watch now and share.
White House Youth Clean Energy Forum
Today the Obama Administration is holding its first-ever Youth Clean Energy Forum with youth leaders from around the country. The event is being hosted at the White House today until 7pm EST, and will also be webcast to young people around the world at: www.whitehouse.gov/live. Transitioning to clean energy will create jobs, enhance national security and help protect our environment for generations to come.
Click here for more info.
UN Climate Conference Starts Monday
The world is gearing up the highly anticipated Copenhagen Climate Summit from December 7th-18th, which will be the most important meeting on climate change in history. Since we can't all be in Denmark to help rally the cause, there are plenty of ways to stay as informed as possible.
subscribe to Live Earth TV via iTunes. Click here to subscribe via RSS.
You can help solve the water crisis by participating in the April 18, 2010 Dow Live Earth Run for Water. Run/walk registration is now officially open! Sign up now at http://liveearth.org/run.
Thanks and be sure to visit us soon!
LiveEarth TV Debuts Live Earth TV debuts today! Find out how you can make a difference and participate in Live Earth's 2010 Global Event. This is the first of several Live Earth TV webisodes leading up to the Run for Water on April 18th, 2010. Episode 1 features video from partners Global Water Challenge and Blue Legacy, with music by Paul Dateh & Ken Belcher and introduces Live Earth TV host Shira Lazar.
Click here to watch now and share.
White House Youth Clean Energy Forum
Today the Obama Administration is holding its first-ever Youth Clean Energy Forum with youth leaders from around the country. The event is being hosted at the White House today until 7pm EST, and will also be webcast to young people around the world at: www.whitehouse.gov/live. Transitioning to clean energy will create jobs, enhance national security and help protect our environment for generations to come.
Click here for more info.
UN Climate Conference Starts Monday
The world is gearing up the highly anticipated Copenhagen Climate Summit from December 7th-18th, which will be the most important meeting on climate change in history. Since we can't all be in Denmark to help rally the cause, there are plenty of ways to stay as informed as possible.
subscribe to Live Earth TV via iTunes. Click here to subscribe via RSS.
You can help solve the water crisis by participating in the April 18, 2010 Dow Live Earth Run for Water. Run/walk registration is now officially open! Sign up now at http://liveearth.org/run.
Thanks and be sure to visit us soon!
Turbines in the Great Lakes?
NY seeking developer for Great Lakes wind project
(AP) – 1 day ago
LEWISTON, N.Y. — New York state is looking for developers to build and operate wind turbines in the Great Lakes.
The offshore wind turbines would be the first for New York and among the first in North America, depending on when they get up and running.
The New York Power Authority on Tuesday invited potential developers to submit their plans and expects to award one or more projects a year from now. The power authority wants to see wind turbines in Lake Erie, Lake Ontario or both producing between 120 and 500 megawatts of electricity by 2015.
The utility would buy all the electricity from the owner-operators as part of the state's goal of meeting 45 percent of its electricity needs through renewable power.
The turbines would be built two to seven miles offshore.
Copyright © 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
(AP) – 1 day ago
LEWISTON, N.Y. — New York state is looking for developers to build and operate wind turbines in the Great Lakes.
The offshore wind turbines would be the first for New York and among the first in North America, depending on when they get up and running.
The New York Power Authority on Tuesday invited potential developers to submit their plans and expects to award one or more projects a year from now. The power authority wants to see wind turbines in Lake Erie, Lake Ontario or both producing between 120 and 500 megawatts of electricity by 2015.
The utility would buy all the electricity from the owner-operators as part of the state's goal of meeting 45 percent of its electricity needs through renewable power.
The turbines would be built two to seven miles offshore.
Copyright © 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
The Munk Debates: Climate Change
Thanks to Tom Paton for this:
CBC AIRS CLIMATE CHANGE MUNK DEBATE WED. ON CBC RADIO ONE "IDEAS".
CBC's Ideas will re-broadcast the Munk Debate on Climate Change on CBC Radio One this Wednesday evening, Dec. 2.
"Munk Debates
Next Monday, the most important climate negotiations in 12 years will begin in Copenhagen. The goal of the United Nations conference is to lay the groundwork for a global treaty to cap greenhouse gas emissions and stem climate change. But in the lead-up to the conference, a debate remains over how grave the threat of global warming is, how much needs to done to fight it, and at what cost.
Those questions will be on the table at the Munk Debates in Toronto . George Monbiot and Canadian Green Party Leader Elizabeth May will be on one side. Bjorn Lomborg and Lord Nigel Lawson will be on the other. And they'll debate this proposition: Be it resolved: Climate change is mankind's defining crisis and demands a commensurate response.
Bjorn Lomborg is a professor at the Copenhagen Business School and the author of The Skeptical Environmentalist and Cool It. George Monbiot is a columnist with The Guardian newspaper and the author of Heat: How to Stop The World from Burning and The Age of Consent: A Manifest for a New World Order.
CBC's cbc.ca. Ideas will re-broadcast the debate on CBC Radio One this Wednesday evening, Dec. 2." CBC
--------------
C02 levels in the atmosphere are climbing steadily higher. Some believe this is having a devastating effect on humans and nature, while others argue that the threat has been overstated. Is this the moment for a bold international treaty to curb carbon emissions? Or, are the social and economic costs of reducing C02 emissions too high in world where a billion people live on a dollar or less a day?
Just days before the United Nation’s historic Copenhagen summit the Munk Debates will tackle one of the great public policy questions of our time: how should the world respond to climate change?
Elizabeth May
“We need to look at all of Canada’s priorities, but we must address the climate crisis . . . if we fail to address it, nothing else we do makes any difference.”
George Monbiot
“The real costs of climate change are not measured in dollars and pounds, the real costs are measured in lives and in ecosystems . . . immeasurable.”
BjØrn Lomborg
“ . . . we are knowingly squandering colossal sums of money (on climate change) while fractional sums can save millions of lives right now.”
Lord Nigel Lawson
“We have entered a new age of unreason which threatens to be as economically harmful as it is disquieting. It is from this, above all, that we need to save the planet.”
The Munk Debates are open to the public. Tickets to the debates are $20 to $50 each. Seating is limited. Each event begins at 6:45 p.m. with a vote by the audience on the resolution being debated. The debaters then provide opening arguments and cross-examine each other. A question and answer period with the audience follows. A well-known moderator keeps the proceedings orderly. The debate wraps up with a summation by each debater and a second vote by the audience on the resolution. The final vote is tallied and the winning side announced at 9pm. CBC Radio's Ideas, The Globe and Mail and CPAC take each event's discussion to the larger public.
The Munk Debates is an initiative of the Aurea Foundation, a charitable organization founded by Peter and Melanie Munk to support Canadian institutions involved in the study and development of public policy.
The Munk Debates is organized by Rudyard Griffiths and Patrick Luciani, the co-directors of the Salon Speakers Series.
The Munk Debates benefit from advice and insights of an advisory board. Its members include Andrew Coyne, Devon Cross, Allan Gotlieb, George Jonas, Margaret MacMillan, Anthony Munk and Janice Gross Stein.
---------
CBC AIRS CLIMATE CHANGE MUNK DEBATE WED. ON CBC RADIO ONE "IDEAS".
CBC's Ideas will re-broadcast the Munk Debate on Climate Change on CBC Radio One this Wednesday evening, Dec. 2.
"Munk Debates
Next Monday, the most important climate negotiations in 12 years will begin in Copenhagen. The goal of the United Nations conference is to lay the groundwork for a global treaty to cap greenhouse gas emissions and stem climate change. But in the lead-up to the conference, a debate remains over how grave the threat of global warming is, how much needs to done to fight it, and at what cost.
Those questions will be on the table at the Munk Debates in Toronto . George Monbiot and Canadian Green Party Leader Elizabeth May will be on one side. Bjorn Lomborg and Lord Nigel Lawson will be on the other. And they'll debate this proposition: Be it resolved: Climate change is mankind's defining crisis and demands a commensurate response.
Bjorn Lomborg is a professor at the Copenhagen Business School and the author of The Skeptical Environmentalist and Cool It. George Monbiot is a columnist with The Guardian newspaper and the author of Heat: How to Stop The World from Burning and The Age of Consent: A Manifest for a New World Order.
CBC's cbc.ca. Ideas will re-broadcast the debate on CBC Radio One this Wednesday evening, Dec. 2." CBC
--------------
C02 levels in the atmosphere are climbing steadily higher. Some believe this is having a devastating effect on humans and nature, while others argue that the threat has been overstated. Is this the moment for a bold international treaty to curb carbon emissions? Or, are the social and economic costs of reducing C02 emissions too high in world where a billion people live on a dollar or less a day?
Just days before the United Nation’s historic Copenhagen summit the Munk Debates will tackle one of the great public policy questions of our time: how should the world respond to climate change?
Elizabeth May
“We need to look at all of Canada’s priorities, but we must address the climate crisis . . . if we fail to address it, nothing else we do makes any difference.”
George Monbiot
“The real costs of climate change are not measured in dollars and pounds, the real costs are measured in lives and in ecosystems . . . immeasurable.”
BjØrn Lomborg
“ . . . we are knowingly squandering colossal sums of money (on climate change) while fractional sums can save millions of lives right now.”
Lord Nigel Lawson
“We have entered a new age of unreason which threatens to be as economically harmful as it is disquieting. It is from this, above all, that we need to save the planet.”
The Munk Debates are open to the public. Tickets to the debates are $20 to $50 each. Seating is limited. Each event begins at 6:45 p.m. with a vote by the audience on the resolution being debated. The debaters then provide opening arguments and cross-examine each other. A question and answer period with the audience follows. A well-known moderator keeps the proceedings orderly. The debate wraps up with a summation by each debater and a second vote by the audience on the resolution. The final vote is tallied and the winning side announced at 9pm. CBC Radio's Ideas, The Globe and Mail and CPAC take each event's discussion to the larger public.
The Munk Debates is an initiative of the Aurea Foundation, a charitable organization founded by Peter and Melanie Munk to support Canadian institutions involved in the study and development of public policy.
The Munk Debates is organized by Rudyard Griffiths and Patrick Luciani, the co-directors of the Salon Speakers Series.
The Munk Debates benefit from advice and insights of an advisory board. Its members include Andrew Coyne, Devon Cross, Allan Gotlieb, George Jonas, Margaret MacMillan, Anthony Munk and Janice Gross Stein.
---------
More News on Fight for Nurse Practioner
Press release from Stephen McNeil, Liberal leader, and Junior Theriault, MLAMCNEIL: TIME FOR LEADERSHIP FROM PREMIER AND HEALTH MINISTER
(Halifax, NS) Liberal leader Stephen McNeil says the people of Long
Island and Digby Neck deserve action from the Minister of Health and the
Premier on the District Health Authority’s inability to restore the
services of their nurse practitioner.
“The Minister of Health has plenty of evidence that this valuable
health provider has the confidence of patients in that community, while
the administration of the District Health Authority does not,” said
McNeil. “The letter of confession that the Board tried to force the
nurse practitioner to sign is a clear indication of the lack of judgment
at play.”
The nurse practitioner did not have her contract renewed in October.
The community has been trying to negotiate with the District Health
Authority, but has been stonewalled in its attempts.
“The people know what they want – they want their nurse practitioner
back,” said area MLA Harold “Junior” Theriault. “The administration of
the Health Authority has bullied Karen Snider and tried to ruin her
reputation. It’s just not right.”
The community group has requested a meeting with the Minister of Health
this week. McNeil and Theriault have sent a letter to both Premier
Dexter and health minister Maureen MacDonald urging a meeting with Digby
Neck/Long Island residents prior to Friday, December 4th, 2009.
McNeil says the government’s “hands off” approach has failed. The
leader of the Official Opposition believes the methods employed by the
District Health Authority are both unprofessional and unacceptable.
“The people of Digby Neck and Long Island have been patient and
persistent in supporting their nurse practitioner, now it is up to the
Minister of Health to do her job and support the people of community,”
said McNeil.
Note from blogger:
And yet, see below
MacDonald supports health authority CEO
>>
>> Health Minister Maureen MacDonald says she has every confidence in the
>> CEO of the Southwest Nova district health authority after a Liberal MLA
>> called for his resignation on the weekend.
>> Digby-Annapolis MLA Harold Theriault said he has no faith in the ability
>> of Blaise MacNeil, in the wake of the firing of a nurse practitioner who
>> worked in a busy clinic on Long Island.
>>
>> Read the full story at
>> http://thechronicleherald.ca/NovaScotia/1155411.html
(Halifax, NS) Liberal leader Stephen McNeil says the people of Long
Island and Digby Neck deserve action from the Minister of Health and the
Premier on the District Health Authority’s inability to restore the
services of their nurse practitioner.
“The Minister of Health has plenty of evidence that this valuable
health provider has the confidence of patients in that community, while
the administration of the District Health Authority does not,” said
McNeil. “The letter of confession that the Board tried to force the
nurse practitioner to sign is a clear indication of the lack of judgment
at play.”
The nurse practitioner did not have her contract renewed in October.
The community has been trying to negotiate with the District Health
Authority, but has been stonewalled in its attempts.
“The people know what they want – they want their nurse practitioner
back,” said area MLA Harold “Junior” Theriault. “The administration of
the Health Authority has bullied Karen Snider and tried to ruin her
reputation. It’s just not right.”
The community group has requested a meeting with the Minister of Health
this week. McNeil and Theriault have sent a letter to both Premier
Dexter and health minister Maureen MacDonald urging a meeting with Digby
Neck/Long Island residents prior to Friday, December 4th, 2009.
McNeil says the government’s “hands off” approach has failed. The
leader of the Official Opposition believes the methods employed by the
District Health Authority are both unprofessional and unacceptable.
“The people of Digby Neck and Long Island have been patient and
persistent in supporting their nurse practitioner, now it is up to the
Minister of Health to do her job and support the people of community,”
said McNeil.
Note from blogger:
And yet, see below
MacDonald supports health authority CEO
>>
>> Health Minister Maureen MacDonald says she has every confidence in the
>> CEO of the Southwest Nova district health authority after a Liberal MLA
>> called for his resignation on the weekend.
>> Digby-Annapolis MLA Harold Theriault said he has no faith in the ability
>> of Blaise MacNeil, in the wake of the firing of a nurse practitioner who
>> worked in a busy clinic on Long Island.
>>
>> Read the full story at
>> http://thechronicleherald.ca/NovaScotia/1155411.html
Bear River Health Clinic Updates
Acupuncture – Traditional Chinese Acupuncture by Joe Kubinec is available on Wednesdays unless otherwise posted. This treatment is good for back pain, arthritis, menopause, headaches, insomnia, stop smoking and many other conditions. Appointments are booked through the Clinic.
Audiology – Neil Hackett is in every other Friday to help with your hearing needs. Please call 1-866-299-2016 to book appointment. Coupons available at the Clinic for a free hearing test.
Electrolysis – Ronda Best is in once a month for all your hair removal needs. Call 1-902-791-0953 for more information or to book your appointment.
Esthetics –Charlene Decker is in monthly for waxing, manicures and pedicures. To book an appointment or for more information, call 1-902-362-2137.
Juniper House Outreach –You can book an appointment to see Lori at our Clinic by phoning 245-4789.
Massage Therapy – We expect to have a massage therapist in place in the New Year. Thank you for your patience during this transition.
Physician Services – Dr. Roy Harding is seeing patients by appointment only. Due to the increase in the number of public flu clinics in this area, we will no longer be offering this service at the Bear River Clinic.
Senior Services – Nurse Practitioner, Dianne Corbett, RN specializes in concerns specific to the elderly, such as memory loss, complicated medical conditions and poor coordination/balance. For more information or to book an appointment, call the Clinic.
Note: Times and dates are subject to change due to unforeseen circumstances. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.
Relay For Life
We are still looking for a few more people to be on our Clinic’s team for the 2010 Relay for Life events.
If you are interested, please call 467-3611 and leave your name and phone number.
December 5 Fire Department Events:
Firemen’s Breakfast: 7 – 10 am
Upstairs in the Firehall
Christmas Tree Lighting
Sleigh Rides
Visit by Santa
Beginning at 7:00 pm behind the Firehall
Next Board Meeting – Tuesday, December 1 at 7:00 pm at the Clinic. All members of the public welcome!
Note: The Clinic will be closing on Wednesday, December 23 at 4 pm for the Holidays. We will reopen on Monday, January 4 at 8:30 am.
MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR
to all, from the Staff and Board of the BR&ACHC
Audiology – Neil Hackett is in every other Friday to help with your hearing needs. Please call 1-866-299-2016 to book appointment. Coupons available at the Clinic for a free hearing test.
Electrolysis – Ronda Best is in once a month for all your hair removal needs. Call 1-902-791-0953 for more information or to book your appointment.
Esthetics –Charlene Decker is in monthly for waxing, manicures and pedicures. To book an appointment or for more information, call 1-902-362-2137.
Juniper House Outreach –You can book an appointment to see Lori at our Clinic by phoning 245-4789.
Massage Therapy – We expect to have a massage therapist in place in the New Year. Thank you for your patience during this transition.
Physician Services – Dr. Roy Harding is seeing patients by appointment only. Due to the increase in the number of public flu clinics in this area, we will no longer be offering this service at the Bear River Clinic.
Senior Services – Nurse Practitioner, Dianne Corbett, RN specializes in concerns specific to the elderly, such as memory loss, complicated medical conditions and poor coordination/balance. For more information or to book an appointment, call the Clinic.
Note: Times and dates are subject to change due to unforeseen circumstances. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.
Relay For Life
We are still looking for a few more people to be on our Clinic’s team for the 2010 Relay for Life events.
If you are interested, please call 467-3611 and leave your name and phone number.
December 5 Fire Department Events:
Firemen’s Breakfast: 7 – 10 am
Upstairs in the Firehall
Christmas Tree Lighting
Sleigh Rides
Visit by Santa
Beginning at 7:00 pm behind the Firehall
Next Board Meeting – Tuesday, December 1 at 7:00 pm at the Clinic. All members of the public welcome!
Note: The Clinic will be closing on Wednesday, December 23 at 4 pm for the Holidays. We will reopen on Monday, January 4 at 8:30 am.
MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR
to all, from the Staff and Board of the BR&ACHC
Labels:
Bear River health clinic
News Release from Liberal Caucus
>>>
>>> News Release
>>>
>>> www.nsliberalcaucus.ca
>>>
>>> November 30, 2009
>>>
>>> Stephen McNeil, MLA
>>> Liberal Leader
>>>
>>> Harold “Junior” Theriault, MLA
>>> Digby-Annapolis
>>>
>>> MCNEIL: TIME FOR LEADERSHIP FROM PREMIER AND HEALTH MINISTER
>>>
>>> (Halifax, NS) Liberal leader Stephen McNeil says the people of Long
>>> Island and Digby Neck deserve action from the Minister of Health and the
>>> Premier on the District Health Authority's inability to restore the
>>> services of their nurse practitioner.
>>>
>>> "The Minister of Health has plenty of evidence that this valuable health
>>> provider has the confidence of patients in that community, while the
>>> administration of the District Health Authority does not," said McNeil.
>>> "The letter of confession that the Board tried to force the nurse
>>> practitioner to sign is a clear indication of the lack of judgment at
>>> play."
>>>
>>> The nurse practitioner did not have her contract renewed in October.
>>> The community has been trying to negotiate with the District Health
>>> Authority, but has been stonewalled in its attempts.
>>>
>>> "The people know what they want - they want their nurse practitioner
>>> back," said area MLA Harold "Junior” Theriault. "The administration of
>>> the Health Authority has bullied Karen Snider and tried to ruin her
>>> reputation. It’s just not right."
>>>
>>> The community group has requested a meeting with the Minister of Health
>>> this week. McNeil and Theriault have sent a letter to both Premier
>>> Dexter and health minister Maureen MacDonald urging a meeting with Digby
>>> Neck/Long Island residents prior to Friday, December 4th, 2009.
>>>
>>> McNeil says the government's "hands off" approach has failed. The
>>> leader of the Official Opposition believes the methods employed by the
>>> District Health Authority are both unprofessional and unacceptable.
>>>
>>> "The people of Digby Neck and Long Island have been patient and
>>> persistent in supporting their nurse practitioner - now it is up to the
>>> Minister of Health to do her job and support the people of community,"
>>> said McNeil.
>>> News Release
>>>
>>> www.nsliberalcaucus.ca
>>>
>>> November 30, 2009
>>>
>>> Stephen McNeil, MLA
>>> Liberal Leader
>>>
>>> Harold “Junior” Theriault, MLA
>>> Digby-Annapolis
>>>
>>> MCNEIL: TIME FOR LEADERSHIP FROM PREMIER AND HEALTH MINISTER
>>>
>>> (Halifax, NS) Liberal leader Stephen McNeil says the people of Long
>>> Island and Digby Neck deserve action from the Minister of Health and the
>>> Premier on the District Health Authority's inability to restore the
>>> services of their nurse practitioner.
>>>
>>> "The Minister of Health has plenty of evidence that this valuable health
>>> provider has the confidence of patients in that community, while the
>>> administration of the District Health Authority does not," said McNeil.
>>> "The letter of confession that the Board tried to force the nurse
>>> practitioner to sign is a clear indication of the lack of judgment at
>>> play."
>>>
>>> The nurse practitioner did not have her contract renewed in October.
>>> The community has been trying to negotiate with the District Health
>>> Authority, but has been stonewalled in its attempts.
>>>
>>> "The people know what they want - they want their nurse practitioner
>>> back," said area MLA Harold "Junior” Theriault. "The administration of
>>> the Health Authority has bullied Karen Snider and tried to ruin her
>>> reputation. It’s just not right."
>>>
>>> The community group has requested a meeting with the Minister of Health
>>> this week. McNeil and Theriault have sent a letter to both Premier
>>> Dexter and health minister Maureen MacDonald urging a meeting with Digby
>>> Neck/Long Island residents prior to Friday, December 4th, 2009.
>>>
>>> McNeil says the government's "hands off" approach has failed. The
>>> leader of the Official Opposition believes the methods employed by the
>>> District Health Authority are both unprofessional and unacceptable.
>>>
>>> "The people of Digby Neck and Long Island have been patient and
>>> persistent in supporting their nurse practitioner - now it is up to the
>>> Minister of Health to do her job and support the people of community,"
>>> said McNeil.
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