Quoted below is what the PHSOR says about mental health services (pages 20 and 21):
MENTAL HEALTH
Mental health services are delivered throughout the Province either in a combined district model or through individual DHAs. This service is handicapped by limited resources and a provincial mental health response that is in development, but remains disjointed. Efforts to improve mental health services are underway. The PHSOR identifies a number of themes that support the need for extensive redevelopment of mental health services, including:
- Access to both community-based supports and acute inpatient services is limited. Shortages of community-based services increase the reliance on acute services. Conversely, bed utilization and inability to discharge are common issues due to limited community programs and hospitalization. There is insufficient community housing, few community groups and resources, little long term rehabilitation and a lack of geriatric assessment units and senior mental health programs. These issues are particularly difficult for patients who cannot access services within their own DHA.
- Access to mental health professionals is limited. There are few psychiatrists outside the larger urban centres. The same is true for many other mental health professionals, e.g., psychologists. Emergency response teams are inadequate to compensate for and meet crisis care needs for most communities. The issues are exacerbated by transportation challenges between healthcare providers and patients, reflecting the geographic realities in Nova Scotia.
- Pharmaceutical interventions are often costly and limited Pharmacare coverage for prescription drugs encourages non-compliance to prescribed treatments.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
- Limited integration and communication between government departments and within the DOH interrupts the continuum of care. There is a need for greater planning with the Department of Community Services to provide appropriate supported housing. In addition, patients with concurrent disorders are not well supported due to infrastructure and longstanding stigmas attached to service providers, e.g., mental health and addiction services. Finally, the mental health needs within aboriginal communities are not being addressed adequately and require stronger linkages between provincial and federal jurisdictions.
10. That the Department of Health lead a process with the DHAs/IWK to complete a focused review of mental health services including, but not limited to: a health human resource strategy for mental health professionals; a provincial bed analysis to determine how many beds are needed in the Province and where those beds should be (fewer sites for inpatient programs may need to be considered to alleviate the pressure that is currently being experienced regarding recruitment and retention of staff to support the inpatient units); necessary linkages across the continuum; and Province-wide strategies for program prioritization, growth and development (e.g., seniors’ mental health services).
11. That the Department of Health work with the DHAs/IWK to identify options to increase available funding for community and outpatient mental health services, to reduce unnecessary inpatient stays.
12. That the Department of Health continue to enhance collaboration across government departments by engaging the Department of Community Services and other governmental partners as appropriate in transformation activities related to mental health, at both the provincial and DHAs/IWK levels.
News Release: Province Accepts All Health System Review Recommendations
Department of Health
January 17, 2008 14:17
The province is taking action on recommendations from a provincial health system operational review to make Nova Scotia's health-care system more effective, efficient and sustainable for all Nova Scotians, now and in the future.
The government announced today, Jan. 17, that all 103 recommendations made by Corpus Sanchez International in the report titled Changing Nova Scotia's Health Care System: Creating Sustainability Through Transformation have been accepted and will begin to be implemented over the next three years.
"A thriving health-care system is critical to the future of Nova Scotia," said Premier Rodney MacDonald. "With the information in this report, we are ready to chart a path that will ensure our health-care system is safe, accessible appropriate, effective and efficient for generations to come."
The recommendations outlined in the report cover every aspect of the health-care system. It notes Nova Scotia's system is heavily focused hospital-based care, which is the most expensive way to deliver health-care services. It recommends a focus on community-based care, and restructuring across the system.
"Nova Scotians need and deserve a health-care system that supports all of their health-care needs, whether it is staying healthy, living with chronic disease, or end of life care," said Health Minister Chris d'Entremont.
The report was developed with input from thousands of health-care providers and interested groups, from every hospital across the province. It notes factors such as an aging population, poor health status of Nova Scotians, increasing demand for health services, health human resource challenges, and the cost of maintaining the system as reasons why the system must change to continue to meet the changing health needs of Nova Scotians.
"As health system leaders, we support the vision of transformation that focuses on quality and safety. In order for the health-care system to be truly sustainable, we must broaden our focus from the treatment of illness, to include maintaining and improving health, in partnership with our citizens," said Dr. Brendan Carr, vice-president of medicine, Capital District Health Authority.
In its response to the report, the province has outlined actions for four key areas: helping people stay healthy; addressing changing needs of seniors; supporting health professionals; and investing for better results. Specific initiatives include establishing a selfcare/telecare phone line for 24/7 health advice, establishing a health human resource strategy, reviewing pharmacy and laboratory services, improving the flow of patients throughout the hospital system, and the use of non-clinical support services.
"I am particularly excited to note that we will be engaging citizens in consultation on the development of a rural health strategy for the province, which will include addressing the issue of emergency health care," said Mr. d'Entrement. "As patients, caregivers and taxpayers, we all have a role to play in ensuring we have the best health-care system possible -- not only for ourselves, but for generations of Nova Scotians."
The Provincial Health Services Operational Review, an executive summary of the report, the province's response document and fact sheets about Nova Scotia's health-care system are available online at www.gov.ns.ca/health.
FOR BROADCAST USE:
The province is taking action on all 103 recommendations from a provincial health system operational review.
The recommendations will help make the health-care system more effective, efficient and sustainable for all Nova Scotians.
Premier Rodney MacDonald says with the information in the report, the province is ready to chart a path to ensure the health-care system is safe, accessible, appropriate, effective and efficient for generations to come.
The report says factors such as an aging population and the increasing demand for health services contribute to the need for changes to the health-care system.
In its response to the report, the province has outlined actions to take place in four key areas: helping people stay healthy; addressing changing needs of seniors; supporting health professionals; and investing for better results.
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Media Contact:
Kim Silver
Department of Health
902-424-3034
E-mail: silverka@gov.ns.ca
Jan MacKinnon
Annapolis Valley Health
902-538-3443
Greg Boone
Cape Breton Health Authority
902-567-7791
Krista Wood
Colchester East Hants Health Authority
902-893-5554 ext. 2409
Ann Keddy
Cumberland Health Authority
902-661-1090
Heather MacKay
Guysborough Antigonish Strait Health Authority
902-867-4262
Eileen MacIsaac
Pictou County Health Authority
902-752-7600 ext. 1124
Theresa Hawkesworth
South Shore Health
902-527-2266
Barbara Johnson
South West Health
