The provincial government is spending $3.8 million for new equipment, repairs and renovations for the Carbonear General Hospital, Interfaith Home and Harbour Lodge. The equipment includes everything from a new $1.44 million CT Scanner for the hospital’s diagnostic imaging department to a new dishwasher for the Harbour Lodge.
In making the announcement at the hospital on Friday, Aug. 20, Health Minister Jerome Kennedy said the province has invested some $11.3 million in health care and equipment infrastructure repairs and renovations in the Carbonear area in the last three years.
The Carbonear-Harbour Grace MHA noted the scanner was actually installed earlier this month and the first patient scan took place Aug. 9.
Kennedy pointed out the new equipment not only speeds up the scanning process for patients, but also ensures area residents “have access to these services in their own community.”
The investment also includes:
• $799,000 for facility upgrades including, roof repairs, a review of the electrical distribution system, medical gas piping, and fire and life safety equipment;
• $575,000 for the replacement of cardiac equipment including defibrillators and monitoring systems, and the replacement of 20 beds at the facility;
• $561,000 for diagnostic imaging, laboratory, laparoscopy, ophthalmology, bronchoscope and endoscope equipment;
• $174,000 for a sterilizer; and, $19,000 for an infant warmer.
Long-term care
While acknowledging his announcement had nothing to do with the long term care facility planned for the area to replace the aging Interfaith Home and Harbour Lodge, Kennedy pointed out “it is important that we continue to invest (in these older facilities) until the new one is in place.
The Carbonear Interfaith Home is receiving $169,000 for a new bathing system and exterior brickwork renovations, while the Harbour Lodge is getting $29,000 for a new dishwasher and safety switches.
He said the province recognizes the importance of continuing to invest in long-term care services in Carbonear and surrounding areas while construction begins on the new 250-bed long-term care facility in that area through a $4 million investment in Budget 2010.
This also includes the redevelopment of ambulatory care for Carbonear General Hospital.
Tender for preliminary site work for parking relocation closed last month, and a tender for $1.2 million for parking and sanitary sewer extension is expected to be issued later this month, Kennedy said. Tenders for the main construction of the new long-term care facility are expected to be called in the spring of 2011 with expected occupancy in late fall 2014.
Health and strength
Trinity-Bay de Verde Bay de Verde MHA Charlene Johnson, who was also on hand for last week’s announcement, suggested, “if you don’t have your health you don’t have anything.” And that’s why it’s so important for government to continue investing in this kind of equipment.
“Investments in the Carbonear Hospital complement the hospital in Old Perlican and medical clinics... (in her district) and ensure individuals are able to avail of necessary health care services when and where they need them,” the Environment Minister observed.
Vickie Kaminski, president and CEO of Eastern Health said, “the installation of new equipment and improvements to infrastructure will enhance the quality of health care for patients at Carbonear General Hospital and our long-term care residents.”
Other investments
Other recent investments for the Carbonear area include approximately $1.2 million for a new transition house in Carbonear to be operated by the Iris Kirby Board of Directors. Kennedy says he expects the centre will open around mid September.
This includes $411,000 for one-time repairs and renovations to the former Presentation Convent building and approximately $816,000 for staffing, household and operating costs.
The final project Kennedy mentioned was $2 million for the planning and development of an adult residential addictions treatment centre in Harbour Grace.
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