NLIS 12
December 1, 2004
(Health and Community Services)
 

Province releases report on health indicators

Health and Community Services Minister John Ottenheimer today released HealthScope 2004, a provincial report of comparable health indicators reviewing primary health care, public satisfaction with health services, access to services and healthy living. 

"This report presents a good picture of health care in our province and the overall health and well-being of our population," said Minister Ottenheimer. "It demonstrates that we have a quality health care system that�s receiving positive support from Newfoundlanders and Labradorians, but there is also more work to be done and the system must continue to evolve and improve access to services for our residents." 

According to its findings, last year 83.7 per cent of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians reported to be somewhat or very satisfied with provincial health services, similar to the overall Canadian average of 84.9 per cent. Provincial residents were more satisfied with the community-based services they received , with 91.9 per cent giving it positive reviews � nine percentage points higher than Canadians in general (83.0 per cent). 

The release of this report fulfills the commitment made by federal, provincial and territorial governments in February 2003 to issue regular progress reports on the status of their health systems. Other significant highlights include:

• Newfoundland and Labrador spends $2,575 per person in health service expenditures, higher than the national average of $2,193 per person;
  
  
• Median wait times for surgery (4.3 weeks), specialist physician visits (4.3 weeks) and diagnostic services (2.0 weeks) for the people of Newfoundland and Labrador were similar to the other Atlantic Provinces and Canada.
  
  
• Eighty-five point nine per cent of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians reported having a regular family doctor, similar to the national average of 85.1 per cent.

"Like other Canadian jurisdictions, obtaining health care when and where you need it is among the highest priority and an area where we are striving to make improvements," said Minister Ottenheimer. "Recent investments in diagnostic equipment such as a new MRI for the western region will improve access to services and in addition, the new federal funding coming from the First Ministers Meeting on Health in September will allow us the flexibility to continue to address these priority areas."

Newfoundland and Labrador has the highest number of CT Scanners per capita among all provinces with approximately one machine per 52,000 residents, nearly double the national average of one machine per 100,000.

As a population, Newfoundlanders and Labradorians need to improve wellness. On average, people in this province exercise less and have higher overweight or obesity rates than other Canadians. Yet, despite higher than average indicators in each of these categories, 67.4 per cent of citizens reported themselves to be in very good or excellent health. This is considerably higher than the national average of 59.6 per cent.

"We need to begin to own our individual health and that means recognizing that we must make a commitment to wellness, healthy communities and healthy lifestyles," said Minister Ottenheimer. "We each have a role to play in the sustainability of our health care system for the future."

HealthScope 2004 is available on-line at //www.gov.nl.ca/health/publications.

Media contact: Carolyn Chaplin, Communications, (709) 729-1377 or (709) 682-5093 

2004 12 01                         4:30 p.m.