Executive Council
Health and Community Services
September 9, 2010
Residents in the Western Region to Benefit
from Health Care Funding
Residents living in the Western region of the
province will benefit from approximately $4.7 million in Budget 2010:
The Right Investments — For Our Children and Our Future
. This
funding will be used for the purchase of capital equipment, repairs and
renovations to Western Memorial Regional Hospital in Corner Brook. The
Honourable Danny Williams, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador and MHA
for Humber West, along with the Honourable Jerome Kennedy, Minister of
Health and Community Services, were in Corner Brook today for the
announcement, and were joined by the Honourable Tom Marshall, Minister
of Finance and MHA for Humber East; Dr. Minnie Wasmeier, Chief Operating
Officer, Secondary Services, Western Health; and, Leo Bruce, Councillor,
City of Corner Brook.
"Residents of Corner Brook and surrounding
communities rely on the quality health care programs and services
offered at Western Memorial Regional Hospital each and every day," said
Premier Williams. "Over the past number of years, we have demonstrated
our strong commitment to funding for this region. Our strategic
investments have included Humberwood Mental Health and Addictions
Centre, a new long-term care home, and a new hospital. Today we are
pleased to announce further investments to improve health care for the
people of the region."
Today's funding announcement includes
approximately $3.7 million for the purchase of capital equipment,
including $1,030,000 for a multi-purpose digital fluoroscopy unit;
$280,000 for interventional diagnostic equipment; $260,000 for a
medication detection machine; $251,500 for safe patient and resident
handling systems; $250,000 for an ultrasound machine; $220,000 for a
modular orthopedic operating room table; $200,000 for a new
sterilization unit; $100,000 for an ear nose and throat camera and
microscope; $96,500 for the purchase of new beds and stretchers; $75,000
for cardiology assessment equipment; $500,000 for a new laundry press;
and, $467,000 for other patient care and support equipment.
This funding also includes $500,000 for
renovations to the recently-vacated fifth and sixth floors of Western
Memorial Regional Hospital; $250,000 for the completion of upgrades in
the maternal newborn area; and, $125,000 for renovations for the new
integrated urology clinic.
"Our government recognizes that health care
affects individuals in every region and community throughout the
province," said Minister Kennedy. "We will continue to ensure that we
are building a strong, sustainable health care system that people can
depend upon now and into the future."
Since 2003, the Williams
Government has invested approximately $45.5 million in capital
equipment, repairs and renovations in the Western Memorial Regional
Hospital. This includes nearly $33.6 million for the purchase of
equipment such as a new MRI machine and CT scanner; a digital
mammography unit; diagnostic, urology, and laboratory equipment; a gamma
camera; beds and stretchers; an ambulance; a pharmacy medication and
dispensing system; operating room and ICU equipment and monitoring
systems; and, other patient care and support equipment. This also
includes approximately $11.9 million for repairs and renovations, such
as a new fire alarm system and panel; departmental upgrades; roof
repairs and asbestos abatement; new medical gas monitoring alarms; a
reverse osmosis water filtration system; and, the installation of eight
new wheelchair accessible washrooms.
"I am very pleased with this funding
announcement," said Minister Marshall. "This is another in a continuing
series of investments that our government has made and is making to
provide the best in health care services for the people of the west
coast."
The Williams Government is also investing
approximately $11.8 million this year for the site selection, planning
and initial preparation for a new hospital in Corner Brook. A municipal
services contract, including asphalt paving, curbs, and sidewalk, was
tendered in June of this year. A site grading contract was tendered in
late July, and work is expected to begin mid-September. Construction is
anticipated to begin in August 2012 with occupancy expected in April
2017.
"The quality of services we provide will be
enhanced by these upgrades to our equipment and facility," said Dr.
Minnie Wasmeier, Chief Operating Officer, Secondary Services, Western
Health. "We are pleased that the Provincial Government continues to make
these strategic investments, which will enable us to provide the best
care possible for the people in our region."
Budget 2010:
The Right
Investments — For Our Children and Our Future
provided an investment
of $208.9 million for health care infrastructure throughout the
province. This includes $177.3 million for new facilities and equipment,
and $31.6 million for repairs and renovations.
This year's budget also included $3 million
for completion of the new long-term care home in Corner Brook, which
opened in June. The 236-bed residential facility features a protective
care and a behavioral unit, as well as a dedicated Veterans unit. This
facility complements four, recently-completed protective community
residences, which offer a new model of residential and community care
designed to promote independence and improve the quality of life for
individuals with mild to moderate dementia. The new long-term care home
and protective community residences represent a total investment of
$68.5 million.
In 2009-10 and 2010-11, the Provincial
Government also invested a total of $750,000 to make several upgrades to
seniors' cottages in Corner Brook, including the replacement of roofs,
siding, windows and exterior doors.
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2010 09 09
12:55 p.m.
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