Health and Community Services
Transportation and Works
January 29, 2016
Making Decisions for Health and Well-Being
Broader Range of Options to be Considered in the Delivery of Long-term Care
The Provincial Government has cancelled the current Request for Proposals (RFP) process for providing additional long-term care beds on the island portion of the province. The RFP has been cancelled because the process was too narrow in scope and considered only one procurement option, which was for the private sector to build, own, maintain and operate long-term care facilities. There are other options yet to be considered and measures are being explored to meet the immediate need for long-term care beds. Further work will be conducted to ensure optimal delivery of long-term care going forward.
“With ever increasing demands on long-term care, the Provincial Government recognizes the importance of expanding the availability of facilities to meet the needs of residents and deliver quality services to seniors. We have closely evaluated the previously established plan for providing long-term care services and we are now working to explore alternate, more fulsome solutions to meet the needs of residents in all regions. This means finding the right tools for the design, construction, financing and maintenance of facilities, including traditional delivery and performance-based infrastructure. With today’s fiscal realities in mind, we must work to achieve a health care system that is cost-effective, responsive and efficient.”
- The Honourable John Haggie, Minister of Health and Community Services
Measures to meet the immediate demand for long-term care beds being assessed as part of the 2016-17 budget process include:
- Continuation of the Enhanced Care in Personal Care Homes Pilot Project;
- Enhancements to community support services; and
- Exploration of a Home First Strategy to prevent or delay admission to a long-term care facility.
“With the growing demand for long-term care in our province in the years ahead, it is prudent to pause and ensure that a broader range of potential options are explored. There has been valuable work done to this point and now we will move forward to gather information on alternate solutions for required facilities, with the public sector providing direct care.”
- The Honourable Al Hawkins, Minister of Transportation and Works
Next steps will include the development of a thorough functional plan and costing for required facilities, as well as the drafting of required policies and legislation to ensure quality services are delivered to an appropriate standard. Under the RFP issued by the previous administration in June 2015, there is an obligation to the bidders not to release information from the proposals. Any access to information requests for disclosure of the proposals or ancillary documents will be processed in accordance with the relevant sections of the ATIPPA legislation.
QUICK FACTS
- The Provincial Government has cancelled a Request for Proposals process for providing additional long-term care beds on the island portion of the province through a public-private partnership arrangement.
- The RFP has been cancelled because the process was too narrow in scope and considered only one procurement option, which was for the private sector to build, own, maintain and operate long-term care facilities. There are other options yet to be considered.
- A number of measures are being explored to meet the immediate demand for long-term care beds.
- Next steps will include the development of a thorough functional plan and costing for long-term care needs by region, as well as the drafting of required policies and legislation to ensure high quality services are delivered to an appropriate standard.
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Media contacts
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Tina Williams Director of Communications Department of Health and Community Services 709-729-1377, 728-2837 tinawilliams@gov.nl.ca |
Jacquelyn Howard Director of Communications Department of Transportation and Works 709-729-3015, 689-2624 jacquelynhoward@gov.nl.ca |
2016 01 29 3:00 p.m.