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Health and Community Services
May 7, 2010
New Urology Outreach
Program Offered at Sir Thomas Roddick Hospital
The Provincial Government is
continuing to make significant investments in health care in the
Stephenville region of the province. Through an investment of over
$950,000 in Budget 2010: The Right Investments - For Our Children and
Our Future, a new urology outreach program has been implemented at the
Sir Thomas Roddick Hospital in Stephenville. This program will provide
support for enhanced access for patients in the region.
The program was officially launched today by the Honourable Jerome
Kennedy, Minister of Health and Community Services. Minister Kennedy was
joined by Susan Gillam, President and CEO of Western Health, the
Honourable Joan Burke, MHA for St George's-Stephenville East and Port au
Port MHA Tony Cornect.
"Ensuring that health care programs and services are available closer to
home for all residents in our province remains a priority for our
government," said Minister Kennedy. "The introduction of a urology
program in the Stephenville region will provide better access to
services and will greatly reduce the need to travel to Corner Brook to
receive care."
The new outreach program at the Sir Thomas Roddick Hospital will provide
flexible cystoscopy procedures and outpatient consultation on a weekly
basis to reduce wait times, which is approximately 16 weeks, down to a
more reasonable period of six or seven weeks.
"Enhancing access for the people of our region is a strategic goal for
Western Health," said Ms. Gillam. "We would like to thank the staff,
managers and physicians involved in this program for working together
for the benefit of the people that we serve."
The investment includes over $410,000 in equipment for the outreach
program, in addition to new positions to support the program at Sir
Thomas Roddick Hospital, including the services of a licensed practical
nurse and a registered nurse.
"The Sir Thomas Roddick Hospital plays an integral role to the health
care services provided to the people of our province and in particular
the West Coast," said Minister Burke. "I am very pleased to see new
programs welcomed to our hospital that will reduce wait times, create
new employment and provide additional services to the area. This is
another example of our government's commitment to providing quality
health care and services to the people of our province."
"This new specialized service will enhance the quality health care
already being provided to area residents at the Sir Thomas Roddick
Hospital," said Mr. Cornect. "It is yet another example of this
government's commitment to health care in all parts of our province."
Since 2003, the Williams Government has invested over $5 million in
health care equipment, repairs and renovations in the Stephenville
region.
Budget 2010 will see an investment of $208.9 million for health care
infrastructure throughout the province, including investments in new
construction, redevelopment of existing facilities, purchase of new
medical equipment and repairs and maintenance.
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Media contact:
2010 05 07
2:55 p.m. |
