Government investing $82 million for capital improvements

Health and Community Services Minister Julie Bettney said government is ensuring that the health infrastructure in this province continues to be of high quality with an investment of over $82 million in Budget 2001-2002 for capital equipment and projects.

"Government will spend $50 million to support the ongoing capital projects throughout the province," said Minister Bettney. These include:

• $17 million in 2001-2002 as part of the $69 million James Paton Hospital redevelopment in Gander;
• $10 million this fiscal year for the new Sir Thomas Roddick Hospital in Stephenville, which has a total cost of the project of $30.3 million;
• $2.5 million for the Grand Bank Health Centre, which has a total cost of $17.3 million;
• $11. 2 million for new health facilities in Fogo and Bonne Bay;
• $0.5 million to commence design work for a long-term care facility in Clarenville; and,
• $7.5 million for several renovation projects throughout various health facilities across the province.

"Government will also spend $32.4 million for capital equipment to ensure that new technologies are available to the people of this province," said Minister Bettney. This money will be spent throughout the province and will include equipment such as CT scanners, mammography units, therapeutic equipment required in hospitals and resident care needs in nursing homes.

"Government has invested in excess of $450 million since 1995 to redevelop existing health care facilities, build new hospitals and nursing homes and provide new equipment," said Minister Bettney. "These improvements raise the quality and accessibility of health programs and services."

Media contact: Carmel Parsons, Communications, (709) 729-1377.

2001 03 22             4:15 p.m.