The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
Jonathon Naylor Editor Flin Flon and virtually all of northern Manitoba is now covered by a single regional health authority. Last Wednesday, May 30, Health Minister Theresa Oswald announced the amalgamation of the NOR-MAN and Burntwood RHAs is complete. In fact all provincially ordered RHA mergers across the province have concluded, leaving Manitoba with five larger RHAs as opposed to 11 smaller ones. In a news release, Oswald said temporary interim boards comprised of senior Manitoba Health officials have been appointed to oversee the establishment of the new RHAs, including beginning to merge the corporate structures and appoint new CEOs. Permanent RHA boards and CEOs are expected to be in place by the end of this month and are to continue to focus on cutting senior corporate positions, streamlining administrative functions and finalizing names for the new RHAs. See 'New...' on pg. 12 Continued from pg. 6 Up to this point, the province has referred to the new NOR-MAN-Burntwood RHA as the 'Northern Health Region,' but it appears a different name may now be chosen. Oswald said other steps to improve the functioning of the new RHAs are proposed in legislation being considered by the legislature. It includes measures to improve fiscal responsibility, tighten controls on executive compensation and improve RHAs' responsiveness to local communities and patients. Consultations If the legislation is passed this spring as expected, Oswald said, public consultations are anticipated this fall on new RHA requirements designed to give communities a stronger voice and partnership in health issues. The NOR-MAN-Burntwood merger puts all of northern Manitoba, minus Churchill, under a single RHA. Whereas NOR-MAN included two of the North's three major centres _ Flin Flon and The Pas _ the new RHA will also encompass Thompson. Churchill's tiny RHA has merged with the Winnipeg RHA given the established health-care link that exists between the northern town and the provincial capital.
