Furey says N.L. health-care system is 'broken' after Haggie announces new measures

Premier Andrew Furey said Monday he still has confidence in Health Minister John Haggie, even as Furey called aspects of the province's health-care system "a crisis," a phrase which the health minister has so far avoided using.

While he didn't say the health-care system as a whole is in crisis, Furey did say the problems many face in health care do constitute a crisis.

"It's a crisis for those experiencing the system when it doesn't work for them, it's a crisis because of the pandemic, in fact, it's amplified by the pandemic. The system is broken," said Furey during question period.

Haggie held an unexpected briefing an hour and a half before the opening of the legislature to announce measures to address the province's family doctor shortage.

The measures include new collaborative team clinics, which use nurse practitioners and other health-care workers to address patient needs in addition to a family physician. 

The province plans to expand seats in nursing programs, particularly in rural areas.

Haggie said the province will establish a health-care worker recruitment office, and create a pilot program to guarantee full time salary for physicians who open a new family practice for two years.

When asked why it has taken so long for the province to address problems in primary care, Haggie, who has been health minister since 2015, said he was first focused on improving the mental health-care system, and then had to divert resources to address the pandemic.

"The reason that is taking so long, quite frankly, is we have limited resources within the department...and these people have been working round the clock for 18 months, keeping everyone safe," he said.

Furey reiterated his confidence in the health minister during question period, but did not specifically address the minister's performance. Furey said the health department is implementing short, medium and long term strategies to address problems in health care.

Members of the opposition parties questioned both the timing and substance of the announcement.

Opposition leader David Brazil told reporters that the health minister made the health-care announcements because he has been "pushed into a corner." Brazil said many of the new measures had already been in play.

"I'm not reassured that the health portfolio is going in the right direction," he said.

Brazil said he was pleased to see the premier use the word "crisis" to describe the province's health-care system, but criticized the health minister for avoiding the term.