Health Minister Terry Lake is directing a strategic and operational review to assist Fraser Health by using a team of B.C. health leaders.

The board of directors of Fraser Health supports the operational and strategic review and will work in collaboration with the review team.

"Fraser Health has a dedicated, professional and caring team of staff members who deliver vital services to the public," said the Health Minister. "This process presents an opportunity to ensure the talented resources we have in our health-care system support Fraser Health's delivery of quality and sustainable health-care services."

Fraser Health is the fastest-growing health authority in British Columbia and is facing service and fiscal pressures in delivering services to its diverse population mix. In 2013-14, it is anticipated Fraser Health will require additional funding from the Ministry of Health to meet its service requirements.

The board will submit to the ministry a new strategic and operational plan to cover a three-year fiscal period, beginning in fiscal 2014-15. Fraser Health's board also will submit a revised fiscal plan for the remainder of this fiscal year.

"We support the development of a new strategic plan to ensure Fraser Health is well positioned to meet our service requirements," said Fraser Health board chair, David Mitchell. "We welcome the opportunity to work with other provincial health leaders to share best practices in a collaborative and constructive process."

The strategic review committee comprised of provincial health leaders will be appointed by the health minister to work with the board to examine Fraser Health's current operational practices and identify priority action areas to address service and fiscal challenges.

The board will submit the strategic plan to the Health Minister in late Spring 2014. The plan, which must be approved by the minister, will identify service targets, operational and financial objectives and outline how Fraser Health's programming and structure can best support achieving these objectives.

Fraser Health serves more than 1.6 million individuals in a health region that extends from Burnaby, to Hope, to Boston Bar. The health authority's population has been growing at a rate of 1.3 per cent for the past three years, which is higher than the provincial average.

Fraser Health receives a funding allocation of $2.5 billion from the Ministry of Health and has received funding increases averaging six per cent per year over the past three years.

The regulation can be found at: http://www.bclaws.ca/EPLibraries/bclaws_new/document/ID/freeside/222_2013

Media Contact:

Ryan Jabs
Media Relations Manager
Ministry of Health
250 952-1887 (media line)