Northern Peninsula to Benefit from Health Care Funding

Provincial health care funding for capital equipment, repairs and renovations continues to flow throughout the province, with $2.4 million for health care in St. Anthony announced today by the Honourable Jerome Kennedy, Minister of Health and Community Services.

"The Williams Government has been vigilant in ensuring that we meet the health care needs of all residents in our province," said Minister Kennedy. "This funding for the Charles S. Curtis Memorial Hospital will help maintain a strong health care system for the Northern Peninsula, extending both the longevity of the hospital and the people it serves."

Approximately $1.28 million will be invested in repairs and renovations to upgrade the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system; replace windows; upgrade additional air conditioning units; construct an isolation room; modify security and maintenance areas; and, put in place two wheelchair accessible washrooms.

Additional funding of approximately $1.16 million will result in the purchase of an ultrasound machine; anesthetic system; hematology analyzer/back-up; dialysis equipment; IBM tape robotic back-up; ears, nose and throat (ENT) microscope; switch replacement; two hematology freezers; an email server replacement; incubator; four IV Pumps; and, a cryosurgery system.

"Continued investments in building upgrades, along with new equipment and technologies are paramount in maintaining and improving quality services at our facilities," said Boyd Rowe, CEO, Labrador-Grenfell Health. "These investments in the Charles S. Curtis Memorial Hospital will enhance our ability to deliver quality care services at this site."

Budget 2010: The Right Investments — For Our Children and Our Future included an investment of $208.9 million for health care infrastructure throughout the province. Since 2003-04 a total of $14.9 million has been invested in the Charles S. Curtis Memorial Hospital and John M. Gray Health Centre for capital equipment, repairs and renovations including a CT scanner; a duel detector digital x-ray room; two ambulances; dialysis machines; ophthalmology equipment; a mobile fluoroscopy unit; IT equipment; roof upgrades; and, window replacements.

- 30 -

Media contacts:

2010 11 03                                                   10:30 a.m.