Residents of Grand Bank and surrounding communities are now being served by the new Grand Bank Health Centre which was officially opened today by the Honourable Ross Wiseman, Minister of Health and Community Services. The minister was joined by Darin King, MHA for Grand Bank, and Joan Dawe, Chairperson, Board of Trustees of Eastern Health, to cut the ribbon on the new health centre.

"The new Grand Bank Health Centre will provide a new and expanded setting for front-line health and community services to better serve the residents of this region," said Minister Wiseman. "This new health centre represents one of many health care infrastructure projects we are engaged in across the province, with over $112 million invested this year alone."

In 2005, the Williams Government announced that a new health centre would be built in Grand Bank, along with renovations to the Blue Crest Nursing Home. The entire project cost for both the new primary health care centre and redevelopment of the Blue Crest Nursing Home was $13.1 million, including $7.7 million for construction of the centre and $5.4 million to complete renovations at the long-term care home.

The new primary health care centre, which replaced the outdated Grand Bank Community Health Centre, provides basic outpatient clinics, holding beds for short stays, and basic laboratory and X-ray services. It also has new clinic and office space for up to five physicians and for visiting community health providers in such areas as social work, mental health, and public health nursing.

"The new Grand Bank Health Centre represents not only the continuation of a long tradition of health and community services to this region, but also a significant step forward," said Ms. Dawe. "From the first physician practice in 1877 to the first hospital in 1911, from cottage hospitals to this state-of-the-art facility today, we have seen tremendous growth in both services and expertise, while always maintaining a commitment to quality care. Eastern Health is proud to partner in this latest provision of health and community services."

The redevelopment of the Blue Crest Nursing Home included both exterior and interior upgrades including windows, doors, modifications to resident washrooms, and new water supply and drainage system. Modifications to the 60-bed home also include a new sprinkler system, and upgrades to the electrical, mechanical, ventilation and emergency power systems.

"This new primary health care centre and renovations to the Blue Crest Nursing Home is another example of the Provincial Government�s commitment to ensuring quality health and community services are available in rural areas of the province," said Darin King, MHA for Grand Bank. "I am pleased that with these improvements and recent investments in the Burin and St. Lawrence health care facilities, the residents of the Burin Peninsula will experience enhanced services when and where they need it."

The contract for construction of the Grand Bank Health Centre, as well as for renovations to the Blue Crest Nursing Home, was awarded to Marco Services in July 2007.

In addition to these two projects, the Provincial Government has made other significant health care investments in the Burin Peninsula region, including a new CT scanner and a new satellite dialysis unit at the Burin Peninsula Health Care Centre.

- 30 -

Media contacts: