Investments in Health Care Infrastructure Benefit Communities throughout the Province

Since 2004, the Provincial Government has invested over $1 billion in health care infrastructure throughout the province. This investment has allowed for the development and continued construction of long-term care facilities, hospitals and health centres that benefit all regions of Newfoundland and Labrador.

“I am pleased to note that our continued investments throughout 2012 have allowed for the next phase of construction at several health care facilities in our province,” said the Honourable Susan Sullivan, Minister of Health and Community Services. “In addition to funding new and existing construction projects, we have allocated approximately $26.6 million for ongoing repairs and renovations to health care centres in the last year.”

Through Budget 2012, the Provincial Government allocated approximately $159 million province-wide in capital infrastructure, with $90 million of this total being used for rural health care centres including:

• Continued construction of a new regional hospital in Labrador West;
• Redevelopment of the Central Newfoundland Regional Health Centre in Grand Falls-Windsor; and,
• Continued planning and construction of the clinics in Marystown North, Glovertown, Flowers Cove and the regional hospital in Corner Brook.

The Provincial Government also continues to invest in long-term care infrastructure. Since 2004, new long-term care facilities have opened in Clarenville, Corner Brook and Happy Valley-Goose Bay. At present, new long-term care facilities in St. John’s, Carbonear and Lewisporte; a Dementia Care Bungalow in Bonavista; and, a Restorative Care Unit at the Corner Brook long-term care facility are all in the construction phase.

Work continues on the youth treatment centres that are under construction in Paradise and Grand Falls-Windsor. Approximately $15.5 million was allocated for these projects through Budget 2012. Eastern Health has also recently awarded a contract for the planning and development of the adult residential addictions treatment centre in Harbour Grace.

“We are responding to increasing mental health and addictions needs with ongoing investments in new programs, services and treatment facilities,” said Minister Sullivan. “I was privileged to officially break ground on the two new youth treatment centres in 2012, marking a significant step forward in their construction. The new treatment centres will greatly enhance treatment options within the province. They will strengthen our capabilities to treat youth and adults and help in the healing and recovery processes by allowing families to be closer to their loved ones.”

The delivery of dialysis services throughout the province will be further enhanced with the addition of a dialysis site at the Connaigre Peninsula Health Centre in Harbour Breton. A contract worth $1.8 million was recently awarded for the development of the new dialysis site. Over the past nine years, the Provincial Government has invested approximately $189 million for the provision of dialysis services in the province and the number of provincial dialysis sites has more than doubled.

Providing quality health care infrastructure continues to be a priority for the Provincial Government, especially in rural Newfoundland and Labrador. There are currently 18 major health care infrastructure projects ongoing throughout the province.

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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 

2013 01 03             10:15 a.m.