The health minister says timely access to adequate health care is the top priority for her department.

Lela Evans has been busy taking in briefings and getting up-to-date on the department over the last few weeks.

She says regarding access, the biggest issue to tackle is recruitment and retention “and being able to provide access to primary care, including in remote and rural areas, and reducing wait times.”

Evans says she has already had meetings with several groups on the topic of health care “including NLHS CEO Dr. Pat Parfrey and the Nurses’ Union.”

She also has a meeting set up with the NLMA, and stresses the importance of meetings with other unions and frontline workers.