Get Well Canada – Call to Sign Open Letter
For those of you who were in attendance in Osoyoos in June, you will remember Dr. Paul Kershaw’s compelling presentation, “Social supports matter more for health than medical care. So let’s fund social services appropriately.” Using data, Paul and the Generation Squeeze team illustrated that more urgent social investments will deliver better health outcomes at lower cost than supplying more doctors or increasing medical spending. For a refresher, we encourage you to read the Briefing Note linked below.
Following his presentation, Paul asked Federation members to sign an open letter to BC politicians asking them to commit to growing social spending to reduce medical care and affordability pressures – and tracking their progress by embedding the ratio of social/education spending relative to medical spending in future budgets. Federation leadership has reviewed this request and has agreed to support this campaign. On behalf of the Federation, Kishone Roy has signed their name to a letter addressed to Premier Eby outlining that a major systemic failing in our health care system is inadequate investment in community based social services. Next steps include sharing information about this campaign as it develops and inviting the Gen Squeeze team to future events to share updates and information in person. In addition, we have drafted a letter that members can sign to support this campaign, if you and your organization are inclined. A PDF is included below. You are welcome to add your name and organization and send it yourself or send signer information to the Federation team, who will add it and send it on your behalf. Please contact Caleigh Garland – caleigh@fcssbc.ca – to share your contact information or if you have any questions.
This is an exciting initiative and also an important one for the community social services sector. Get Well Canada champions our members and the incredibly important work you do to support children, youth, families and seniors in your communities. The Federation is pleased to support this campaign and be part of the alliance of researchers, community leaders and medical professionals working to improve the social supports that keep British Columbian’s well.
Briefing Note: Charting a course to better health and greater affordability
scott graham