Health and Community Services
February 10, 2011

Medical Facility in Stephenville to Receive Funding

Residents of Stephenville and surrounding areas will benefit from an investment in capital equipment, repairs and renovations at the Sir Thomas Roddick Hospital in Stephenville.

The Honourable Jerome Kennedy, Minister of Health and Community Services, was joined by the Honourable Joan Burke, Minister of Education and MHA for St. George's - Stephenville East; Tony Cornect, MHA for Port au Port; Dr. Susan Gillam, CEO of Western Health; and Tom O’Brien, Mayor of Stephenville, to highlight the progress on work being done as a result of an investment of approximately $700,000 made in Budget 2010: The Right Investments – For Our Children and Our Future.

“Our government has a strong vision for health care in this province,” said Minister Kennedy. “The Sir Thomas Roddick Hospital in Stephenville provides essential health services to the people of this region and this investment demonstrates our government’s commitment to rural Newfoundland and Labrador."

Funding for the hospital includes approximately $423,000 for the purchase of equipment such as a sterad sterilization unit which has been installed; a clinical laser system which was recently purchased and a portable ceiling lift which will soon be in place. An additional $297,000 was allocated for repairs to flooring and the replacement of baseboard for which work will soon begin.

“With the continued support in providing significant investments in rural areas, the people of the Bay St. George and surrounding areas will be able to access more enhanced services at the Sir Thomas Roddick Hospital,” said Minister Burke. “This announcement today demonstrates our government’s commitment to provide quality health care to our region.”

“Investments in the Stephenville hospital benefit residents throughout the area,” said Mr. Cornect. “Today’s investment, combined with other investments in this area, demonstrates our government’s continued commitment to enhancing health care in this area of the province.”

“We are pleased with this continued investment at Sir Thomas Roddick Hospital in Stephenville,” said Dr. Gillam. “This investment supports the growth and development of the programs and services that we provide at our hospital and to the people of the Stephenville and Bay St. George area.”

Since opening in 2003, there has been significant expansion to the services and programs offered at the Sir Thomas Roddick Hospital. Since 2003-04, $4.5 million has been invested for the purchase of capital equipment and repairs including a CT scanner, defibrillators and a digital mammography.

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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2011 02 10                                                           12:15 p.m.