The relationship is spelled out, initially, quite clearly in the territorial health and social services act — the relationship between the authorities and the Department of Health and Social Services.
At times, working with authorities, the department would initiate new programs and program delivery. Telehealth was one the department initiated and worked with authorities in that delivery. There are examples of that where the department has become involved and has encouraged authorities to come on line.
When it comes to other service delivery and the level of delivery, the department gets involved with authorities again. So it’s a combination. Ultimately, the authorities, through their management…. They meet. They discuss the spending and the requirements. They make decisions, and on a yearly basis they would come forward, first through the Department of Health and Social Services, requesting more funding. If they see a growth in expenditures — whether it’s utilities or staff growth
or program and service delivery growth — that would be approved on an annual basis. When it comes right down to it, the Department of Health and Social Services would be aware of service delivery requests and levels of delivery.
Now, if they’re not getting all of the information, then we’ve got a definite problem between the relationship of an authority and the department, hence the reason FMBS is involved in a zero-based review as well as the government overall. We’re looking at boards and agencies and the role they play in delivery of health and social services and education across the North.