Please login to view this media
- Talk
- 09/06/2022
- CANADA
Rising to The Challenge: Response to COVID-19 (Newfoundland Labrador) Trinity
Description
The presentation begins with Andrew Furey expressing gratitude for the audience's support and humorously acknowledging his background as a surgeon. He reflects on the unexpected nature of his topic, which is the impact of COVID-19 on Newfoundland and Labrador, emphasizing the need for a national and provincial approach to the crisis. Furey debates the challenges presented by the pandemic as well as the opportunity for unprecedented change in the healthcare system. He advocates for a collective response, highlighting the struggles faced by various jurisdictions and the collaborative efforts of premiers during this time.
Furey acknowledges that while the pandemic exacerbated existing issues, it also offered a chance to rethink the healthcare system, which has remained static since the early days of Medicare. He emphasizes the importance of learning from COVID-19 and shaping a better future for healthcare in the province and country. He shares his experiences, including joining his role at the beginning of the pandemic, the difficult decisions made by leaders, and the heavy implications these choices had on people's lives. Importantly, he claims that while hindsight allows for criticism, decisions were made with the best available evidence at the time.
He discusses Newfoundland and Labrador's response specifically, highlighting the effectiveness of their healthcare leadership and the community's compliance, which created a unique insulated environment against COVID-19. Furey points out that while some measures helped delay the impact, the province still faces significant challenges, including an overwhelming surgical backlog.
Addressing potential solutions, Furey mentions plans to increase nursing capacity and optimize healthcare services through efficient practices. He encourages the audience, predominantly comprising orthopedic surgeons, to leverage their collective expertise to advocate for constructive changes. The call to action is clear: the time to push for sustainable healthcare reforms is now, as current discussions surrounding the Canada Health Transfer present a significant opportunity. Furey ends by asserting the importance of presenting solutions and strategically addressing decision-makers at all levels to ensure effective advocacy and support for the healthcare system.