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Health and Community Services
April 19, 2011

Budget 2011 - Standing Strong for Improved Services and Access to Health Care

Budget 2011 illustrates the Provincial Government’s unwavering commitment to improved health care throughout Newfoundland and Labrador with a record investment of $2.9 billion. Standing Strong: For Prosperity. For Our Future. For Newfoundland and Labrador provides for enhanced access to programs and services across the health care system.

“Our government recognizes that individuals want to access health care programs and services as close to home as possible and we continue to invest strategically to help ensure this is in fact the case,” said the Honourable Jerome Kennedy, Minister of Health and Community Services. “Reducing wait times throughout the province is a priority for our government. Investments in Budget 2011 further this commitment, with particular focus in areas such as reducing wait times and improving access to programming, long-term care and community support services, infrastructure, and wellness services.”

Enhanced Access and Reduction in Wait Times
Through an overall investment of $2.7 million in Budget 2011, the Provincial Government will enhance access and expand services to support those with autism. This investment includes funding of $2.2 million for the initial expansion of the Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) program. The expansion will take place over a two-year period, with funding of $2.9 million to be invested in 2012-13. Currently children complete the program in Kindergarten and now, as a result of the investment in Budget 2011, they will have access up to entry in Grade 4, beginning with Grades 1 and 2 in 2011-12 and Grade 3 in 2012-13.

This funding also includes:

  • $297,000 to improve speech language and occupational therapy programs for children in the province through the addition of seven positions which will not only enhance the diagnosis and treatment of autism, but will enhance services for other children as well. The positions include four occupational therapists, two speech pathologists and a social worker.
  • $255,000 for the development of a regional office of the Autism Society of Newfoundland and Labrador in Western Newfoundland and the expansion of two therapeutic programs.

“I am pleased with the progress that has been made thus far to reduce wait times throughout our health care system,” said Minister Kennedy. “The funding we are providing to support individuals with autism and their families will further reduce wait times in the area of diagnosis and treatment which will significantly enhance the means by which children with autism can access programming. Through this investment in Budget 2011 we are not only enhancing access for individuals with autism, but for other children who require speech language and occupational therapy programming.”

Other Budget 2011 investments to reduce wait times and enhance access include:

  • $1.8 million for the redevelopment of cardiac care services within Eastern Health;
  • $1.8 million to create a new Access and Clinical Efficiency Division within the Department of Health and Community Services to provide leadership on the issue of reducing wait times for key health services;
  • $1.5 million to enhance the Newfoundland and Labrador Dental Health Plan to provide coverage for adults 18 years of age and older who have low incomes or are in receipt of income support;
  • $1.1 million to implement the recommendations of the Patient Flow Study conducted by Eastern Health, which identified opportunities for improvement and further efficiencies across the health care system;
  • $734,000 to eliminate patient fees for interfacility transfers for road and air ambulance services;
  • $700,000 to reduce the private vehicle expense threshold under the Medical Transportation Assistance Program (MTAP) from 5,000 kilometres to 2,500 kilometres for individuals travelling to access insured medical services which will be implemented retroactive to October 1, 2010. MTAP will be further enhanced to allow for the prepayment of 50 per cent of the cost of economy airfare for medical travel for residents, further enhancing Budget 2010 investments;
  • $359,600 for the implementation of the MOREOB (Managing Obstetrical Risk Efficiently) Program in obstetrical services throughout Eastern Health which is designed to improve patient safety for obstetrical patients; and,
  • Six new drug therapies will be covered under the Newfoundland and Labrador Prescription Drug Program.

Budget 2011 also provides $3.1 million for dialysis enhancements in Burin, St. John’s, Stephenville, St. Anthony and Labrador City, as well as the establishment of satellite dialysis in Harbour Breton which was announced on April 13.

Enhancements to Long-Term Care and Community Support Services
As Newfoundland and Labrador continues to prosper, the Provincial Government remains ever mindful of the province’s seniors and the importance of access to long-term care and community support services.

Budget 2011 provides an investment of $2.6 million to increase the current home support hourly subsidy rate by 25 cents. This will raise the current rate from a differential of $1.75 to $2.00 above minimum wage. The same incentive is being provided under home support programs within the Department of Child, Youth and Family Services, specifically for respite and behavioural aide service workers. This represents an investment of $600,000 in Budget 2011.

Other investments include:

  • $3 million for modifications to the new long-term care facility in Corner Brook to increase bed capacity;
  • $2.4 million to increase the personal care home subsidy rate from $1,717 to $1,800 as well as the creation of 100 new portable subsidies;
  • $1.1 million to increase the monthly maximums for home support subsidies to ensure the current number of hours available for home support are maintained;
  • $792,000 for the creation of a Small Personal Care Home Subsidy Program which will assist small personal care homeowners experiencing cost pressures;
  • $250,000 to review the current home support program;
  • $250,000 to implement the Act Respecting the Protection of Adults; and,
  • $189,300 to adjust the skill mix at the Protective Care Residence in Corner Brook to accommodate a higher level of care for individuals with dementia.

Improved Access to Health Care Professionals
Budget 2011 provides significant investments to further recruit and retain health care professionals throughout Newfoundland and Labrador.

“We currently have the highest number of physicians as well as the most nurses working in this province in our history,” said Minister Kennedy. “We are continuing to invest to ensure we will keep that level of quality health care professionals in our province.”

Investments include:

  • $3.6 million for physicians who assume significant clinical and administrative leadership roles within the Regional Health Authorities;
  • $1.2 million to increase the funding for the medical/dental student and resident bursary program;
  • $700,000 to improve accommodations for medical students in rural areas of Newfoundland and Labrador; and'
  • $335,000 for the improvement of the provincial service at the Maternal Fetal Assessment Unit through the enhancement of surveillance, treatment and follow-up of high-risk pregnancies.

Strengthening Health Care Infrastructure
Health care infrastructure throughout Newfoundland and Labrador continues to be a priority for the Provincial Government with a total investment of $272.2 million in Budget 2011, which includes $200.6 million for new and continuing construction and redevelopment.

New infrastructure projects are:

  • $4.5 million to begin planning for the replacement of the Waterford Hospital in St. Johns as referenced in a Budget 2011 announcement regarding mental health and addictions services;
  • $1.7 million for construction of a protective care community residence in Clarenville;
  • $600,000 to begin planning for the redevelopment of the Green Bay Community Health Centre; and,
  • $90,000 to start construction of a new building to replace the existing medical centre in Glovertown.

Continued infrastructure projects include:

  • $56.2 million for the continued development of the new long-term care facility in St. John’s;
  • $23.7 million for the continued construction of a new regional hospital in Labrador West;
  • $20 million for the continued construction of a new 250-bed long-term care facility in Carbonear;
  • $18.5 million for the continued construction of a new hospital in Corner Brook;
  • $12.1 million for redevelopment of the North Haven Manor in Lewisporte;
  • $6.8 million for the continued redevelopment of the Central Newfoundland Regional Health Centre in Grand Falls-Windsor, with a total project cost estimated at approximately $30 million; and,
  • $5.5 million for the continued redevelopment of the James Paton Memorial Regional Hospital in Gander.

In addition, the Provincial Government is committing a further $17.8 million over the life of the plan to expand the PET/CT cyclotron project. This funding will see the consolidation of nuclear medicine services at one site and infrastructure for future expansion of the cancer care program, which will increase the total project cost to approximately $29.8 million.

Budget 2011 also includes an overall investment of $50 million for new equipment and $21.6 million for repairs and renovations.

Enhancing Health and Wellness Priorities
Promoting health and well-being remains a priority for the Provincial Government. Budget 2011 provides key investments to enhance the health and wellness of residents, including:

  • $477,700 for the expansion of the Janeway Lifestyles Program which provides services for children to achieve healthy weights and address other risk factors for chronic disease; and,
  • $225,000 for a school-based tobacco prevention campaign targeting elementary and junior high students, continuation of a social media campaign that focuses on youth and young adults with smoking prevention and cessation messages, and an increase in funding to the Newfoundland and Labrador Lung Association for the operation of the Smokers’ Helpline.

“Our government has proven its vision and commitment when it comes to advancing the health care system throughout the province time and time again,” said Minister Kennedy. “Budget 2011 provides unprecedented investments that allow us to focus on key areas which will further enhance our health care services for future generations of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians.”

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Media contact:
Jennifer Tulk
Director of Communications
Department of Health and Community Services
709-729-1377, 699-6524
JenniferTulk@gov.nl.ca

2011 04 19             2:30 p.m.

 
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