The president of the New Brunswick Medical Society supports the government’s changes to provincial health care leadership.
In a statement, Dr. Mark MacMillan said the health system is in crisis and addressing this crisis will require swift and difficult decisions.
In sweeping changes announced on Friday, Premier Blaine Higgs named Bruce Fitch as the province’s new health minister replacing Dorothy Shephard who will again serve as minister of social development.
Horizon Health Network CEO and president Dr. John Dornan was fired and Margaret Melanson, current Horizon vice-president clinical services, will take over his role on an interim basis.
In addition, the boards of directors of both the Horizon and Vitalité health networks have been dismissed and replaced with two trustees.
The shakeup comes after a man died this week while waiting for care in the emergency room at the Chalmers Hospital in Fredericton.
Dr. MacMillan said the Medical Society supports any such decision that ultimately leads to meaningful change in the quality of care available to New Brunswickers.
He said the organization looks forward to meeting with Minister Fitch and learning how government will address the priorities laid out in the provincial health plan.
Dr. MacMillan said physicians bring a unique perspective from the front lines of health care and want to be involved in the process.
“We want to recognize the work of Minister Shepherd over the past two years and her efforts to move health care forward during the pandemic,” noted Dr. MacMillan.
“We also want to take this opportunity to thank Dr. John Dornan for his service as CEO of Horizon Health Network. Dr. Dornan inherited an impossible situation and did an admirable job guiding Horizon under incredibly challenging circumstances.”
