Minister visits Carbonear Hospital and long-term care facilities

Health and Community Services Minister Gerald Smith and Carbonear-Harbour Grace MHA George Sweeney visited the Carbonear Hospital and long-term care facilities in the area yesterday. 

Minister Smith said he is pleased with the ongoing renovations to the Carbonear Hospital. "I was impressed with the progress being made with the renovations," he said. "It was particularly interesting to see the innovative way existing space is being included into the changes."

Government committed $1.7 million to the Carbonear Hospital renovations, which began in January of this year. To date, renovations have been completed in the x-ray department allowing room for a new CT scanner and mammography equipment, which became operational in June. Renovations are also underway in the health records department, with work on the emergency room to begin shortly. All renovations are expected to be completed by November 2002.

"The Carbonear Hospital provides a valuable service to the people in this area and I am very pleased that government recognized the need to renovate the facility," said Mr. Sweeney.

Minister Smith and Mr. Sweeney also toured long-term care facilities in Carbonear. The minister said this tour enabled him to see first-hand the demands for long term care services in the area. "I understand the need for a new long-term care facility for the Conception Bay North area. Government recognizes the need to develop a strategy for long-term care and supportive services to address these needs across the province and it is important that any new developments in this sector are part of an overall long-term health and community care strategy for the province," said Minister Smith.

Media contact: Diane Keough, Communications, (709) 729-1377.

2002 08 02                               11:15 a.m.