Health and Community Services
September 1, 2010Dr. G.B.
Cross Memorial Hospital to Receive Provincial Funding
The Dr. G.B. Cross Memorial Hospital in Clarenville
will receive approximately $877,000 in funding for capital equipment,
repairs and renovations, including cardiac equipment and bed
replacements. The Honourable Jerome Kennedy, Minister of Health and
Community Services, was joined by Pat Coish-Snow, Vice-President,
Regional Acute Care, Eastern Health; the Honourable Ross Wiseman, MHA
for Trinity North; and, Fraser Russell, Deputy Mayor of Clarenville, for
the announcement today.
"The Williams Government has made significant
investments in this health care facility over the past number of years,"
said Minister Kennedy. "The Dr. G.B. Cross Memorial Hospital plays a key
role in providing health services to the Town of Clarenville and the
surrounding communities. The funding we are announcing today will help
further strengthen this hospital by enhancing patient care, and
providing equipment needed for top tier medical services."
The funding will be used for the purchase of capital
equipment, including $609,332 for new cardiac equipment; $60,000 for bed
replacements; $57,552 for laboratory equipment; $21,800 for operating
room instruments; $10,311 for sterilizer load assembly; and, $6,736 for
respiratory equipment. Other investments include $44,300 for a water
evaluation; $39,500 for modernization of transfer switches; and, $27,500
to survey the electrical distribution systems.
"On behalf of our patients and staff, I would like to
express appreciation for this funding, as it will have a significant
impact on a range of services at our hospital in Clarenville," said Pat
Coish-Snow, Vice-President of Regional Acute Care, Eastern Health. "It
will provide life-saving equipment for our patients with cardiac and
respiratory illnesses, enhance operating room and infection control
procedures and offer comfortable rest to patients during their hospital
stay."
Today's funding announcement brings the total
Provincial Government investment in the Dr. G.B. Cross Memorial Hospital
since 2003 to approximately $8.2 million for capital equipment, repairs
and renovations. This includes approximately $6.3 million in capital
equipment such as a new CT scanner, a digital mammography unit, an
ultrasound machine and system upgrade, two anaesthetic machines,
defibrillators, a bone density machine, bed replacements, and cardiac
and laboratory equipment. Approximately $1.9 million was invested for
repairs and renovations, including roof replacement, and renovations to
accommodate the mammography unit and CT scanner.
"I am delighted our government continues to make
strategic investments in our health system," said Minister Wiseman. "The
Dr. G.B. Cross Memorial Hospital provides quality patient-focused care,
and these investments will greatly enhance patient services in our
region."
In 2009-10, the Dr. Albert O'Mahoney long-term care
facility opened adjacent to the Dr. G.B. Cross Memorial Hospital. The
44-bed facility provides long-term residential accommodations to seniors
and individuals with high-care needs. The Provincial Government invested
$22 million over several years to construct this facility.
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, including
investments in new construction, redevelopment of existing facilities,
purchase of new medical equipment and repairs and maintenance.
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