June 2, 1999
(Health and Community Services)

Newfoundland's health directions endorsed by Nova Scotia Budget

Joan Marie Aylward, Minister of Health and Community Services, reflecting on the health contents of yesterday's Nova Scotia Budget, noted that the initiatives announced are similar in nature to many of the recent initiatives announced by the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador.

She specifically noted that Nova Scotia is following Newfoundland and other jurisdictions in making health care its number one priority and putting money back into health care. Reinvestments are being made to ensure that a high quality of care is maintained and efforts continue towards improving the efficiency of the health system in both Nova Scotia and Newfoundland.

Like Newfoundland, Nova Scotia is investing a significant amount of funding to address the debts accumulated by health boards, to convert casual nursing positions to permanent status, to hire new nursing positions, to provide additional funding for support services, to buy new hospital equipment and to put in place programs to promote healthy lifestyles. She also noted that the Nova Scotia government, like Newfoundland, recognizes the need for improved accountability for both government and the health boards.

With respect to nursing, the minister reiterated the addition of 125 new nursing positions and the potential conversion of 540 casual nurses to permanent status. In addition, the $4 million to the boards to provide additional support services will lessen the current workload of nurses and allow them to concentrate more on nursing duties. This compares favourably with Nova Scotia's commitment for 400 new nursing positions, which includes 200 conversions. The department is also exploring the feasibility of increasing enrolments at each of the three nursing schools within the province. In addition, health human resource planning activities to address the longer term need for nurses and other health professionals within this province has commenced.

In short, the thrust of the Nova Scotia Health Budget reflects Newfoundland's strategic directions. Like Nova Scotia this province is preparing to meet the challenges of an aging population, the need to maintain public confidence and accountability, rapidly increasing costs and unprecedented medical, scientific and technological advances.

The minister noted that Newfoundland, like other jurisdictions in this country, is facing significant changes in the delivery of health care. Newfoundland supports the guiding principles that health care must be consumer, family and community focused, not facility and provider driven. This is one of the reasons why this government continues to support the delivery of services through Ccmmunity/regional boards and will continue to work with boards to ensure that the current and emerging health needs of our residents are met.

Media contact: Glenn Bruce, (709) 729-1377

_______________________________
Comparison Health Budget - Nova Scotia and Newfoundland

NOVA SCOTIA                                                 NEWFOUNDLAND

$1.6 billion budget                                                $1.1 billion

pop. (Est.) 900,000                                              pop. 544,000

$10 million for nursing issues                                 125 positions - $7.5 million
- 200 positions                                                     540 conversions - $2.3 million
- 200 conversions                                                 $4 million for support positions
                                                                            Total - $13.8 million

Nova Scotia's share of increased                           Newfoundland's share of increased
federal CHST - $100 million                                 federal CHST - net $17 million

$10 million annually for hospital                            $4.5 million base annually
equipment                                                            1998-99 Strategic Investments
                                                                            - $15 million for equipment
                                                                            - $6 million for Meditech

Clean slate by removing hospital                            Pay off deficits accumulated to March 31, 1998
debts (assumed debt) $ not specified                     - $40 million

Recruitment and retention of specialists                  $4.1 million to recruit an additional
- not specified                                                       35 salaried physicians

1999 06 02          `5:05 p.m.