Residents of Arnold's Cove and surrounding areas will benefit from faster emergency and ambulance response times with $200,000 in annual Provincial Government funding to create a new ambulance base in the Town of Arnold's Cove. The Honourable Jerome Kennedy, Minister of Health and Community Services, was joined by Pat Coish-Snow, Vice-President, Regional Acute Care, Eastern Health; Calvin Peach, MHA for Bellevue; and, Tom Osbourne, Mayor of Arnold's Cove, for the announcement today.

"In times of an emergency every minute counts," said Minister Kennedy. "The placement of an ambulance base in Arnold's Cove will help increase the speed at which medical assistance and transportation can be delivered. This service will mean that during those critical first minutes of an emergency, help can arrive faster, treatments can begin sooner, and the health care system and services for this area will be enhanced for those who need it."

This funding announcement comes after a review of ambulance services in the Arnold's Cove area conducted by Eastern Health, which recommended a new ambulance base be stationed in that community. This new base is expected to be in place by fall 2010, and will be operated by Fewer's Ambulance Service.

"This enhancement of emergency response services is very good news," Pat Coish-Snow, Vice-President of Regional Acute Care, Eastern Health. "It will provide more timely intervention from the ambulance as first responders and also help bridge the gap of both time and distance between the patients and our medical facilities in Clarenville and Whitbourne."

"I am very pleased with today's announcement and the impact it will have on Arnold's Cove and the surrounding areas," said Calvin Peach, MHA for Bellevue. "This will provide additional comfort to those seniors at the Hilltop Manor and Golden Years Manor, as well as for those people working in the many large industries that neighbour this community. Access to quick and timely emergency services are essential for protecting our residents, communities and workers."

Budget 2010: The Right Investments — For Our Children and Our Future includes approximately $43.7 million for road ambulance services throughout the province. The road ambulance program is a valuable component of the health care system, with approximately 170 ambulances and 850 registered ambulance personnel province-wide. The delivery of quality pre-hospital care results in improved patient outcomes.

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