Context

In the context of network transformation, the regional health and social services boards and institutions, in partnership with English-speaking communities, developed access programs of health and social services in English. These plans were prepared in light of transformation objectives to ensure continuity of application of the right of English-speaking persons to receive services in their language in the course of reorganisation of services.

The Conference aimed to evaluate this context with a view to ensuring that application of the new access programs reflects the efforts of partners to consolidate the results of the last three years of reform.

Theme: << Consolidating change : making new models work >>

In Quebec, the network has undergone an intense period of defining priorities and approaches to organising services to better respond to new needs of the population. The rationalisation of institutional structures has brought certain actors to the fore, such as local community service centres (CLSCs). The change has reduced the role of traditional providers of service, resulting in closures and mergers of some hospitals and a modification of vocation of others. The 900 institutions of the network in operation before the years of reform have been reduced to around 500. The goal now is to consolidate these changes to ensure that new integrated and adapted models allow the population better access to quality services.

The Conference considered the issues of accessibility of services for English-speaking people. Participants explored the different strategies aiming to ensure that new service models respond to the particular needs of this clientele.

Areas of discussion:

<< The direction of change >>

The shift to ambulatory services and the implementation of less costly solutions for care provoked a major change in the organisation of services. This orientation affects health services for the general population as well as programs for a specific clientele such as seniors, youth, and those with a physical or intellectual deficiency.

Integration of services on a local basis requires creation of new points of contact with the system, such as Info-Santé. In certain CLSC territories, non-specialised medical and hospital services will form part of local services. The CLSC territory will also serve as the basis for integrating long-term care with homecare and certain rehabilitation programs.

Specialised medical and hospital services, rehabilitation services, and public health programs will be consolidated on a regional basis. It is expected that super-specialised services provided by university hospital centres and affiliates and certain rehabilitation centres will be organised on a supra-regional basis.

The Conference assessed the scope and significance of the consolidation objective, now the priority for the next three years. Participants discussed the major stakes of strategic planning currently engaging regional boards and network partners.

Three emerging themes were considered: the values underpinning the health and social services system, the integration of services, and the mobilisation of human resources. Special attention was accorded to the provision of English-language services in this new context.

<< Demographics and communities >>

Recent demographic data on English-speaking communities was presented.

Participants examined the importance of new information which will have an impact on the identification of community needs, planning, and the provision of services.

<< Adapting services >>

Adapting services is a question of implementing new service models with limited resources.

Conference delegates discussed how effective measures can be developed to ensure that the integration of services takes into account the needs of English-speaking people. Participants also examined strategies to ensure continuity of access to English-language services.

Participants

• community representatives, including those who are members of advisory or administrative structures of regional boards and institutions;

• personnel of the regional health and social services boards, institutions, the Ministry of health and social services and other government bodies;

• members of the provincial body advising the government on the provision of English-language services;

• federal and Quebec administrators of the Canada-Quebec Agreement (an agreement on Canada’s financial contribution to Quebec’s initiatives promoting access to health and social services for English-speaking persons in their own language);

• other guests and presenters.