Lack of prudent analysis and planning is the underlying disease in our Healthcare System – not Nurses’ job disruption. The CEO for Okanagan Health Region in British Columbia has been venting his disappointment and frustration in the press and in public meetings over the BC Nurses’ job action in their pursuit of higher wages and benefits. Nobody would question the CEO’s sincere concern for the consequences that the Nurses’ action has on the patient’s and the public’s well-being. It is also reasonable to believe that the majority of our Nurses share the CEO’s concerns, and many are also concerned about stretching society’s sympathies too far. The real problem is that the strategic issues facing the Healthcare system – although they

Which way should I take from here ? That depends on where you want to get to. I don’t care where. Then it doesn’t matter which way you walk. -Alice in Wonderland. Regional Health Care: P&A Discussion Letter for OISD – an approach to solution. – October 1994 Submitted to the BC Minister of Health and members of the Okanagan health administration Copyright 1994, all right reserved by P&A Management. No part of this paper or publication may be reproduced or in any other form stored in a data base or retrieval system or used in any form without prior written permission of P&A Management. A P&A Discussion Letter… P&A Management addresses the strategic issues facing private and government organizations

The Commission on the Future of Health Care in Canada – a critical test of what kind of society Canada wants to become, with. special concern for British Columbia. Heralded under the banner of ‘worthy causes’ the forming of ‘politically visible’ commissions or committees is an old political method of avoiding controversial decisions and accountability. Members of the community volunteer time and effort to advise paid politicians, bureaucrats and consultants on what they should already have known and should have done many years ago. It is a good way to ensure that nobody is accountable. Will the Commission on the Future of Health Care in Canada be any different? Will the community embrace the commission, and will that allow everyone