GANDER, NL – Mayor Percy Farwell and the Town of Gander are commending Health Minister John Haggie for launching an external review of Central Health.
Haggie announced the review on Feb. 6. The independent study will focus on the health authority’s board of directors and senior management.
Related:
Health minister orders external review of Central Health
For some time, Farwell said council has been receiving negative feedback about operations at Central Health.
Specific to Gander, there have been concerns about the number of family physicians, recruitment and particularly, retention of doctors at James Paton Memorial Hospital.
Even when things seemed to be going well, Farwell said, it didn’t last long.
“We had positive news over the summer that there were a number of new specialists recruited to work here, but in the months since we’ve heard nothing but resignations, considerations of resignation and departures,” he said.
“In so many places you are hearing what is being described as a toxic environment in terms of working for this employer in this hospital, and that has to be taken seriously.”
While Farwell says the outcome of the study can’t be pre-judged, he hopes it can shed some light on the situation.
“Hopefully, the independent review will cut through a number of things, talk to the right people and arrive at some conclusions around what the problem is,” he said.
“I don’t want to pre-judge, but it seems like the focus of this review appears to be appropriate given the volume of evidence out there and the concerns that have been expressed.”
