VICTORIA — When the New Democrats launched a promised review of waste and inefficiency in the health authorities this week, they did not choose a fresh pair of eyes to oversee the effort. Read More
Vaughn Palmer: For the past six years under the NDP, Penny Ballem has served as chair at Vancouver Coastal Health, one of six authorities targeted for eventual review
Vaughn Palmer: For the past six years under the NDP, Penny Ballem has served as chair at Vancouver Coastal Health, one of six authorities targeted for eventual review
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VICTORIA — When the New Democrats launched a promised review of waste and inefficiency in the health authorities this week, they did not choose a fresh pair of eyes to oversee the effort.
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The first phase will be led by Dr. Penny Ballem. As deputy minister of health under the previous B.C. Liberal government, she established B.C.’s one provincial and five regional health authorities.
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For the past six years under the NDP, Ballem has served as board chair at Vancouver Coastal Health, one of the six authorities targeted for eventual review.
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Informed Opinion
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Still, the New Democrats insisted that Ballem’s insider status made her the right person for the job.
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“I have absolutely no problem standing up and defending the work that Dr. Ballem has been doing in the health-care sector,” said Health Minister Josie Osborne. “She is in a very unique and good position to be able to help lead this review.”
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In fairness to Ballem, although she presided over the establishment of the health authorities, she also quit the Liberal government in protest over interference from the office of then Premier Gordon Campbell.
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The key passage in her June 22, 2006, letter of resignation to Campbell: “The plans that you and your deputy minister have established for the organization of the ministry of health are unsound and reflect a lack of confidence in my leadership on your part.”
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Ballem cleaned out her office and left the day she sent the letter, which was subsequently leaked to the news media. The sudden exit meant she neither expected severance, nor was she entitled to receive it.
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I expect she will give the government her best advice in the new role. Whether the New Democrats take all of it is another matter.
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The New Democrats this week appointed Ballem to a $400,000 a year position as interim CEO and president of the Provincial Health Services Authority, the first of the authorities selected for review.
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Her job is to “make recommendations and associated changes as needed to re-position, streamline and optimize resources.” Osborne has requested a preliminary report within six weeks.
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The review is expected to set the standard for subsequent exercises with the five regional health authorities.
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High on the list of targets is the top-heavy administrative bureaucracy in the B.C. system.
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B.C. spends almost twice as much on health care administration as neighbouring Alberta — $350 million versus $180 million — according to the independent Canadian Institute for Health Information.
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