Medical Association willing to "wait and see" N.L. Health Services plan for Janeway

Jenna Head · CBC News

· Posted: Apr 17, 2025 4:30 AM EDT | Last Updated: 9 minutes ago

Groups representing doctors and nurses successful Newfoundland and Labrador were prepared to big a associated quality league connected Wednesday, criticizing the program to determination gynecological services to the Janeway children's hospital.

However, that league was cancelled after Dr. Pat Parfrey, CEO of N.L. Health Services, met with the N.L. Medical Association and the Registered Nurses' Union via Zoom.

"Dr. Parfrey has been successful the relation for 2 oregon 3 months now, and immoderate of it is trying to springiness him immoderate clip and accidental to enactment done immoderate of these issues," said NLMA President, Dr. Steve Major.

Major 's radical opted to springiness the provincial wellness authorization the payment of the doubt. But the Nurses' Union didn't consciousness the same. 

In a statement, the Union said the greeting gathering with Parfrey near them with much questions than answers, claiming that there's a deficiency of transparency implicit if the determination is conscionable a projected thought oregon an existent plan. 

Beyond the Janeway vision

Despite those concerns, the NLMA's Major described Parfrey arsenic a "doer." He said successful the meeting, helium said Parfrey committed to moving with frontline unit arsenic they look astatine moving the women's wellness unit to the Janeway. 

"I'm hoping that we'll person much engagement," Major said. "Some of the problems we spot successful the strategy are that frontline workers, whether they are nurses, doctors oregon different healthcare providers, are not needfully engaged erstwhile decisions are made."

Major said that deficiency of engagement causes galore healthcare professionals to interest that diligent outcomes volition beryllium compromised if decisions are not made appropriately.

This comes successful the aftermath of pediatricians drafting a 30-page study connected the imaginable move, outlining their concerns that it would interaction children's care. 

Parfrey understands the pushback coming from physicians.

"There's nary uncertainty that the pediatricians are against it due to the fact that they consciousness that the Janeway should beryllium a children-only clinic, a children-only hospital," helium said.

But Parfrey's concerns span beyond the walls of the Janeway, arsenic helium said the determination would capable beds that are different empty.

"You got astir 30 patients that are successful corridors each time that are waiting to beryllium admitted to the Health Sciences Centre," helium said.

No timeline

Despite including the Janeway's redevelopment program successful the 2025 provincial budget, some Parfrey and Interim Health Minister John Haggie support determination isn't a timeline for moving obstetrics and gynecology to Janeway.

"That's portion and parcel of the discussion," Haggie said. 

WATCH | Dr. Steve Major explains wherefore the property league was cancelled:

For the NLMA, the payment of the uncertainty doesn't mean submission to the wellness authorities' plans.

Major said moving gynecological services to the Janeway isn't however NLHS should hole the system, but they are consenting to perceive them out.

"I deliberation fundamentally astatine this point, we're consenting to hold and spot wherever things go," Major said.

Download our free CBC News app to motion up for propulsion alerts for CBC Newfoundland and Labrador.  Click here to sojourn our landing page.