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Health and Community Services
Executive Council
September 4, 2012

Big Investments in Booming Labrador West

Labrador continues to play a significant and growing role in the prosperity and future of our province said the Honourable Susan Sullivan, Minister of Health and Community Services, today at a funding announcement in Labrador City.

“To ensure we keep up with the increased demands on our health care system, our government is investing over $26 million into the Labrador West region this year,” said Minister Sullivan. “This funding will be used to enhance health care services and continue development of the health centre.”

The new health centre in Labrador West has been allocated approximately $25.7 million through Budget 2012: People and Prosperity - Responsible Investments for a Secure Future. This funding will continue the development of the new facility with occupancy expected in the spring of 2014. Once complete, the health centre will represent an overall investment of approximately $90 million. The construction work to date includes site and groundwork, exterior steel and brick work, steel decking and roofing system and interior finishes and drywall.

In addition, $195,400 will be provided to the Captain William Jackman Memorial Hospital in Labrador City. This funding will be used to purchase new capital equipment including:

To further enhance patient safety at the hospital pharmacies in Labrador City and St. Anthony, $300,000 is being allocated to implement an electronic patient medication profiling system at both locations.

Our Northern Strategic Plan is a strategy to improve the health and well-being of all Labradorians,” said the Honourable Nick McGrath, Minister Responsible for Labrador Affairs. “Our government has remained focused on the needs of Labradorians since 2004 and by the end of the current fiscal year, total spending through the plan and other Labrador-related initiatives will have exceeded $3.5 billion.”

Minister Sullivan also announced that the Department of Health and Community Services and Labrador Grenfell-Health will work together to enhance planning resources for this region. In light of the increased activity resulting from new and expanding mining opportunities and the proposed Muskrat Falls hydroelectric project, this planning and assessment will be used to determine the future health care needs in the Happy Valley-Goose Bay and Labrador West regions.

“I am pleased to see the Provincial Government’s continued investment in health care for Labrador West,” said Tony Wakeham, CEO, Labrador-Grenfell Health. “The growing economy in Labrador is playing a significant role in the demand for health services. I look forward to working with the Department of Health and Community Services to examine how we can best invest in health care in these regions to ensure we provide essential services for all residents, now, and well into the future.”

Since 2004, the Provincial Government has invested over $11.2 million in the Captain William Jackman Memorial Hospital for new equipment, repairs and renovations. This has been used to purchase a CT scanner, anaesthetic, ultrasound and digital mammography machines and it has allowed for building and patient room upgrades, boiler system and equipment upgrades, and the construction of a dialysis unit.

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Media contacts:
 

Jennifer Tulk
Director of Communications
Department of Health and Community Services
709-729-1377, 699-6524
JenniferTulk@gov.nl.ca
Carol Ann Carter
Director of Communications
Labrador Affairs
709-729-1674, 631-9505
carolanncarter@gov.nl.ca
Alison Dower
Regional Director of Communications
Labrador-Grenfell Health
709-454-0128, 454-1205
alison.dower@lghealth.ca
 

2012 09 04                             1:30 p.m.

 
 
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