Northern Health is supporting the development of a community health plan for Fort Nelson and area for the next three to five years, and gathering input from a variety of stakeholders around health and health services.
Community health plan development will be led by a facilitator-supported steering committee that includes Northern Health staff, the Northern Rockies Regional Municipality, Fort Nelson First Nation, and leadership from the physician community. The plan will look at current and future health services, as well as opportunities for creating a healthy community for people who live in the community and area.
“We know that health depends on many things, from housing and food, to recreation, education and community culture,” said Angela De Smit, Northern Health Chief Operating Officer for the Northeast. “Health also depends on health services in a community, and both of these aspects will be explored and addressed in the plan.”
Ideas from area residents, local government, First Nations leaders and members, and organizations involved in health and social services, will be gathered in a variety of ways, including public meetings in November.
“Supporting a healthy community involves many elements that are not just one organization’s responsibility,” said Regional Councillor Lorraine Gerwing, Northern Rockies Regional Municipality. “Evidence shows that healthier communities are created when the health system, local governments and First Nations, non-profit organizations and the business, culture and recreation sectors all work together.”
There are a number of ways for area residents to join the discussion:
- Attending a local facilitated public meeting
- Fort Nelson meeting: Wednesday November 29th, 7:00-8:30 p.m.
- Visitor Centre Meeting Room, Northern Rockies Recreation Centre
- Completing the online survey at: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/NRRMhealth
- Surveys can be completed anonymously, and must be submitted by Thursday, November 30th
- Hosting a group discussion guided by a Community Health Planning Discussion Workbook, available at the Town Hall, the hospital, the Rec Centre, or the Fort Nelson First Nations Health Centre
- Completed workbooks can be dropped off at these same locations by November 30th, 2017
Additional meetings will be held to gather input from specific partners in health care delivery, such as physicians, health staff, and community service providers and organizations.
The Community Health Plan, which will also incorporate information from previous community health reports, will be created from December to February, and results will be made publicly available in spring 2018.