Concerned Citizens for Community Health Care (Grand Forks, BC) met with IHA officials on May 23, 2012. Here are some of the questions asked, and some of the answers received.
IHA has dictated that our Public Health nurses can no
longer provide citizens in our community with STD/HIV testing, and that this
should be done though an individual’s personal doctor. This appears to be a dictate in the IHA
area only and is not a Ministry of Health mandate. We only became aware of this decision by “accident”, and are
now aware that agencies, program and service providers as well as the School
District were caught off-guard by this decision.
Please tell us how you engaged the public and stakeholders in a dialogue regarding this significant change in the delivery of a service?
Can you tell us what the costs are to have Public Health nurses do this testing, and what the costs are to have a doctor do the testing?
What are the savings to the taxpayers in this change of service?
They went around the hoop on this one, not really answering the question but assuring us it was not a financial consideration. They cited some numbers regarding their research into services provided and determined that most of this testing was done by MD’s. My contacts within the public health care system absolutely refute this.
Please tell us how you engaged the public and stakeholders in a dialogue regarding this significant change in the delivery of a service?
Can you tell us what the costs are to have Public Health nurses do this testing, and what the costs are to have a doctor do the testing?
What are the savings to the taxpayers in this change of service?
They went around the hoop on this one, not really answering the question but assuring us it was not a financial consideration. They cited some numbers regarding their research into services provided and determined that most of this testing was done by MD’s. My contacts within the public health care system absolutely refute this.
We have reviewed the Financial Statements of IHA for
the year ended March 31, 2011 and request clarification on Director
Remuneration, Meeting Fees and Expenses.
For the year ended March 2011, a total of $297, 014 was paid to directors and consisted of $92,208 for retainers, $151,559 for meeting fees and $53, 247 for expenses. We understand directors receive a retainer, however, there does not appear to be any consistency between each director, the number of meetings attended and the per meeting fee received. Can you explain how these fees are determined?
What do the expenses paid to directors include?
These rates and fees are determined by the Province. Meeting fees vary depending on the length of time the meeting takes.
For the year ended March 2011, a total of $297, 014 was paid to directors and consisted of $92,208 for retainers, $151,559 for meeting fees and $53, 247 for expenses. We understand directors receive a retainer, however, there does not appear to be any consistency between each director, the number of meetings attended and the per meeting fee received. Can you explain how these fees are determined?
What do the expenses paid to directors include?
These rates and fees are determined by the Province. Meeting fees vary depending on the length of time the meeting takes.
Does IHA provide team-building retreats for their
management? If so, what is the
cost? How many attend? How often do these retreats occur?
They did a retreat last year at an estimated cost of $25,000. Because it was so successful, they will be doing it again.
Is any part of salaries paid to IHA managers
based on performance driven criteria? They did a retreat last year at an estimated cost of $25,000. Because it was so successful, they will be doing it again.
No. Only Halpenny has a holdback on his salary if he does not meet the established
goals and objectives for the year.
To be continued...
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