NOTE TO EDITORS:

Minister to outline province�s current health wait times

Health and Community Services Minister John Ottenheimer will outline the province�s current wait times in relation to the pan-Canadian benchmarks announced December 12 at a news conference to take place at 11:00 a.m. tomorrow (Wednesday, December 21) in the Media Centre, Ground Floor, East Block, Confederation Building. The minister will be joined by Susan Gillam, CEO for Western Health; George Tilley, CEO for Eastern Health; and Dr. Robert Williams, VP � Quality, Diagnostic and Medical Services, Eastern Health. Media representatives are invited to attend.

In September 2004, first ministers committed to establish evidence-based benchmarks for medically acceptable wait times in priority areas including cancer, heart, diagnostic imaging, joint replacements, and sight restoration by December 31, 2005. Provinces and territories announced 10 common benchmarks within the five priority areas on December 12, 2005. All provinces and territories are committed to achieving these benchmarks by March 31, 2007.

Media contact: Tansy Mundon, Communications, (709) 729-1377, 685-1741

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