The PC Government has ousted the man handpicked by the deposed Liberals to run and transform our health care system as it begins to put its stamp on the largest expenditure item in the public sector.
Pat Parfrey was chosen by then-premier Andrew Furey to write the Health Accord, a multi-year effort which would shift the focus to the social determinants of health. Elizabeth Davis was co-chair.
He first was appointed as the top bureaucrat in the Department of Health, then tasked a year ago to run Newfoundland and Labrador Health Services.
Ron Johnson, who was one of several vice-presidents, takes over as interim CEO.
Ron Johnson / VOCM News
Premier Tony Wakeham commended Parfrey for his service, but the premier did not stop there.
The Board of Trustees is responsible for the delivery of health care in the province, and the interim chair of that body will be Ross Wiseman. He was a cabinet minister in the PC administration in the Danny Williams era.
Health Minister Lela Evans says the changes will allow her government to improve how and where health care is provided.
(Fred Hutton / VOCM News)
However, Liberal MHA Fred Hutton says he was disappointed with the move, saying the former CEO navigated the health care system through some challenging times.
“I think he is second to none in terms of the level of energy for somebody who has had such a long and illustrious career. He did well by Newfoundland and Labrador, not in terms of just serving his patients, but as well over the last couple of years serving the population as one of the key architects of the Health Accord,” he told the Tim Powers show on VOCM.
Hutton believes Parfrey still has more knowledge to offer the health care system in the years to come.
