Remote medical equipment for southwest coast

Gerald Smith, Minister of Health and Community Services, Kelvin Parsons, MHA for Burgeo-La Poile, and Oliver Langdon, MHA for Fortune Bay-Cape La Hune, today announced the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador will contribute $60,000 to Western Health Care Corporation toward the purchase of examination cameras for remote clinics along the southwest coast.

The remote examination cameras, to be installed in clinics in Ramea, Grand Bruit, Francois, and Grey River, will allow physicians and nurse practitioners in the area to assess and treat patients at a distance. Medical practitioners will be able to examine patients� injuries as well as perform some internal examinations of ears, noses and throats.

"Currently, patients must travel to the Calder Health Centre in Burgeo or other facilities within the western region to be examined by a physician or nurse practitioner, which can be inconvenient and time consuming for patients. The use of examination cameras in the area will reduce the number of patient transports to the centre and will help to reduce patient wait times," said Minister Smith. "As a government we are always looking for innovative ways to improve health services in this province. This equipment will improve the accessibility of primary health care in southwestern Newfoundland, and government is pleased to support this initiative."

"These remote clinics will help meet the existing health needs of residents along the southwest coast," said Minister Parsons. "This significant investment is another milestone in our commitment towards supporting the rural communities."

"This is a welcome announcement for residents in these remote areas, where primary health care services are challenging," said Minister Langdon. "As MHA, I have lobbied for this type of initiative, and am pleased to work with government toward making the priorities of the people of Fortune Bay-Cape La Hune a reality."

The cameras will operate over the wireless digital network of the Burgeo Broadcasting System, a system built through the collaboration of both government and community partners. With the addition of the cameras this system will also allow medical practitioners to save images of an injury to compare with future images or send to specialists outside the Burgeo area. The examination cameras are just one of many types of remote medical equipment that can be operated over the wireless network.

Allan Kendall, chief executive officer of Western Health Care Corporation, says he was pleased to receive funding from government. "This state of the art equipment will allow us to enhance the medical services we provide to residents of these communities, which are some of the most remote in the province. We are grateful to the provincial government and to our partners for this funding," said Mr. Kendall.

Media contact: Diane Keough, Health and Community Services, (709) 729-1377

2003 09 29                                        5:00 p.m.