The Honourable John Haggie, Minister of Health and Community Services, is congratulating Eastern Health on receiving national recognition for excellence in patient engagement for patient safety from the Canadian Patient Safety Institute, HealthCareCAN, Health Standards Organization and Patients for Patient Safety Canada, for the redesign of mental health and addictions counselling services on the Burin Peninsula.
Eastern Health will be officially recognized for their efforts at the National Health Leadership Conference this June in Toronto.
The primary health care team on the Burin Peninsula consists of community members from various organizations including schools, churches, community leaders, and people with lived experience. The team also includes frontline health care providers such as nurses, social workers, physicians, paramedics, psychiatrists and managers from a variety of program areas like primary health care, mental health and addictions, and emergency services.
Members of the primary health care team work closely with the Burin Peninsula Community Coalition for Mental Health and Wellness and the Primary Health Care Community Advisory Committee to identify priorities for Grand Bank, Fortune, St. Lawrence, Marystown, Burin, Bay L’Argent, Terrenceville and surrounding areas.
Through their efforts, the team has eliminated the wait list for mental health and addictions counselling services, as well as eliminated the no-show and cancellation rates of appointments. Redesigning health care delivery through a team approach has enabled access to same-day, walk-in services whereas people previously waited up to eight months for service.
Support for mental health and addictions services delivers on commitments in The Way Forward to deliver better services and better outcomes for residents. The Way Forward outlines all actions the Provincial Government is taking to achieve a strong, diversified province with a high standard of living, and can be viewed at thewayforward.gov.nl.ca.
Quotes
“People deserve ready access to mental health and addictions services, when and where they are needed. Hats off to Eastern Health, and all the community partners on the Burin Peninsula whose efforts to improve the quality of mental health care is seeing significant positive results in terms of service improvements and counselling wait times.”
Honourable John Haggie
Minister of Health and Community Services
“Upon being elected as MHA for Burin-Grand Bank, there were many issues of importance that crossed my desk, but certainly none more important than health care. In particular the issue of mental health and the high suicide rate in the area raised an alarm. I was very pleased to work along with the Department of Health and Community Services and Eastern Health to find solutions. I was impressed with the way Eastern Health moved the issue forward and came up with constructive ways of dealing with it. I am not surprised their initiatives will be one of two featured as leading practices at the National Health Leadership Conference. It’s an indication of the fine work being carried out here in the province.”
Honourable Carol Anne Haley
Minister Responsible for the Status of Women and MHA for Burin-Grand Bank
“Mental health services are of paramount importance. The Burin Peninsula has seen a shift in not only the delivery of services but also in how mental health problems are perceived. Much of this is owing to the tremendous professionals who are passionate about their work and their patients, and further evidenced by this national recognition. I congratulate Eastern Health and its team and thank them for their work.”
Mark Browne
MHA for Placentia West – Bellevue
“On behalf of Eastern Health, it is an honour to be recognized for the redesign of mental health and addictions counselling services on the Burin Peninsula. I commend our amazing health-care professionals for their drive and passion in creating positive change, and for developing a shared vision with the communities we serve. Eastern Health is pleased to lead the way in patient and community engagement for the provision of mental health and addictions counselling. We hope it serves as a road map to bring about meaningful changes in health-care delivery throughout the country.”
Dave Diamond
CEO, Eastern Health
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Learn more
Official News Release Announcing National Recognition 
Primary Health Care Team Creating Positive Change on the Burin Peninsula
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Media contacts
Kathy Dicks-Peyton
Health and Community Services
709-729-6986, 699-1982
kathydickspeyton@gov.nl.ca
Cathy Bolt
Constituency Assistant to
Honourable Carol Anne Haley, MHA for Burin-Grand Bank
709-832-2530
cathyannbold@gov.nl.ca
Tara Planke
Constituency Assistant to
Mark Browne, MHA for Placentia West-Bellevue
taraplanke@gov.nl.ca
Tracey L. Boland
Eastern Health
709-777-1412
traceyl.boland@easternhealth.ca