The Prince Albert Parkland regional Health Authority's annual general meeting was held Sept. 8 evening in Prince Albert.
About 35 people attended the meeting.
A discussion about priorities in the region's strategic plan, including health human resources, infrastructure projects, access to primary health care and implementation of the Patient First Review recommendations.
There were some questions from the audience, mostly focused on the local share required for the region's infrastructure projects in Shellbrook and Prince Albert. The region continues to have discussions with fundraising committees and municipal leadership about raising the 35 per cent required for both projects.
In Shellbrook, an integrated facility will replace the Shellbrook Hospital and Parkland Terrace long-term care facility. In Prince Albert, a new 60-bed long-term care facility will be constructed on the Regional Health Centre site to replace Pineview Terrace Lodge. More information about the local share funding will be provided as details are finalized.
The region is reporting a surplus of $586,868 for the period April 1 to July 31, 2010. Morgan Kennedy, vice-president of Finance and Information Technology, said that despite that current situation, the forecast is for a $504,000 year end deficit.
Kennedy said the region continues to be conservative in its revenue estimates and realistic for expenditures. There are significant expenditures related to professional fees that are paid out during the second half of the fiscal year. A significant contributor to the current surplus was the reduction in vacation liability as many staff members took vacation during July. That will repeat in August, but the liability will increase starting in September.
The board of directors passed a motion to ratify the tentative SAHO/CUPE collective agreement to cover the period of April 1, 2008 to March 31, 2012. The contract must be ratified by all of the health regions as well as the unions. That is expected to be completed by the end of September.
The next regional health authority meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 13 at the Birch Hills Civic Centre. The meeting begins at 1 p.m.
