Health and Community Services
August 15, 2013
The U.S. Memorial Health Centre in St. Lawrence is receiving $97,500 for facility upgrades and new equipment.
“The U.S. Memorial Health Centre is an important part of St. Lawrence’s history and after close to 60 years continues to provide care to residents,” said the Honourable Susan Sullivan, Minister of Health and Community Services. “Today’s announcement of more than $97,000 brings the Provincial Government’s total investment to more than $1.5 million in this health care facility since 2004. This funding has provided for the addition of new equipment and the replacement of older infrastructure that ensures the facility continues to play a prominent role in the community.”
Today’s investment supports the acquisition of a recumbent tub, which will help patients who have difficulty getting in and out of a conventional bathtub, as well as the replacement of patient beds and the facility’s fuel tank.
“These acquisitions continue to demonstrate our government’s unwavering commitment to enhancing and strengthening health care facilities here in St. Lawrence and the surrounding communities,” said the Honourable Darin King, Minister of Justice and MHA for Grand Bank. “I welcome the funding and am pleased that these latest enhancements will go a long way in upgrading the facility’s equipment and to improving quality care for patients.”
The facility was opened in 1954 with support from the United States government to thank area residents for their role in rescuing survivors of the USS Pollux and USS Truxton in 1942. It is a 40-bed facility that has an emergency room and other services such as long-term care, x-ray, blood collection, and diagnostic imaging.
“This investment into infrastructure and capital equipment at the U.S Memorial Health Centre demonstrates the Provincial Government’s commitment to providing quality, safe and sustainable care,” said Dr. Oscar Howell, Vice President of Medical Services and Diagnostics at Eastern Health. “It will enable us to enhance the equipment available at the facility and to upgrade infrastructure so we can continue to provide quality health care in this historic facility.”
Budget 2013: A Strong Plan. A Secure Future includes a total investment of $226 million in capital infrastructure, with $165.8 million for continuing construction and redevelopment, $40.2 million for new equipment and $20 million for repairs and renovations.
Media contacts:
| Scott Barfoot Director of Communications Department of Health and Community Services 709-729-1377, 690-6290 scottbarfoot@gov.nl.ca |
Corey T. Parsons Constituency Assistant to the Honourable Darin King MHA for Grand Bank 709-832-2531 coreyparsons@gov.nl.ca |
| Zelda Burt Media Relations Manager Eastern Health 709-777-1339 Zelda.Burt@easternhealth.ca |
2013 08 15 11:20 a.m.