NLIS 4
May 11, 2000
(Health and Community Services)

The following statement was issued today by Roger Grimes, Minister of Health and Community Services. It was also read in the House of Assembly:

Official signing of $9.1 million contract with ambulance operators

I am pleased to inform honourable members that government and the province's three ambulance associations - namely the Newfoundland and Labrador Community Ambulance Operators Association, the Newfoundland Ambulance Operators Association, and the Newfoundland Association of Ambulance Services - have formally signed a $9.1 million, three-year contract to provide road ambulance services in this province. This is a 50 per cent increase in overall funding for the ambulance services budget.

The contract signed with ambulance operators will bring stability to ambulance services for the next three years. More specifically, the people of this province will benefit from upgrading to ambulances, and operators will work toward improved training for ambulance attendants and improved overall safety.

Patient care has always been, and still remains today, our number one priority. That is why we have provided this additional funding to the ambulance operators. Together we will work toward improved standards so that Newfoundlanders and Labradorians can look forward to continued improvements in our road ambulance system of the future.

At this time, I would like to take the opportunity to thank ambulance operators, their attendants and volunteers for the critical role they play in our health system. Your work is appreciated by many.

2000 05 11                                                     2:00 p.m.