Government Reaches Tentative Agreement with Community Ambulance Operators

Today, the Honourable Tom Marshall, Minister of Finance and President of Treasury Board, announced the Provincial Government has reached a tentative agreement with the 22 community-based ambulance operators in the province. These operators are based across rural Newfoundland and Labrador.

�I�m pleased that this tentative agreement has been reached,� said Minister Marshall. �We believe that this agreement provides the necessary funding required to assist these operators in continuing to provide quality service delivery for rural Newfoundland and Labrador.�

The tentative agreement reached is for 4 years.

�Our government is optimistic that this significant investment into the road ambulance program will help community-based operators address recruitment and retention issues,� said the Honourable Jerome Kennedy, Minister of Health and Community Services. �Our investment in community ambulance operations is consistent with our government's commitment to providing quality health services in rural communities.�

Collectively, community-based ambulance operators perform more than 3,000 patient transports annually and travel approximately 500,000 kilometres.

The Provincial Government continues to negotiate an agreement with private ambulance operators.

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2009 11 11                                                    8:20 p.m.