The Department of Health and Community Services and NL Health Services are adding beds at health care facilities in Western Newfoundland to accommodate alternate level of care patients in the region.

The Honourable John Hogan, KC, Minister of Health and Community Services, and Teara Freake, Vice-President and Chief Operating Officer Western Zone, NL Health Services, will be available to media today (October 25), at 1:00 p.m. outside of the House of Assembly to discuss the additional services.

Currently, there are patients at the new Western Memorial Regional Hospital who occupy a bed at the hospital and require care such as long-term care, but do not require the services provided at the hospital.

Additional beds are being added to help move these patients to more appropriate settings. This includes:

• Adding 15 beds at Corner Brook Long-Term Care by modifying 15 rooms to double occupancy.
• Issuing a Request for Proposals (RFP) for an interim Alternate Level of Care Centre in the Western Zone, which will lead to more beds.

Quotes
“We have increased capacity Western Newfoundland with the new Western Memorial Regional Hospital and Western Long-Term Care Centre. Approximately 100 new beds have been added to the existing number of beds in the city. These new steps we are taking will increase that further and help ensure patients in the region receive the care they need at the right facility.”
Honourable John Hogan, KC
Minister of Health and Community Services

“Our team has been working with all programs and services across the zone and with provincial programs to identify opportunities to strengthen the capacity of our system and to increase access and this involves a series of short, medium, and long-term plans. The foundation of this work is based on appropriateness of care.  Ensuring people are receiving the right care, from the right provider, and in the right location.   Our zone has an active Appropriateness of Care committee with representatives from across the zone.  What we are doing is truly systems transformation and we are pleased to see some of these shorter-term actions taking shape which will alleviate some of the current pressures in the system.”
Teara Freake
Vice-President and Chief Operating Officer Western Zone, NL Health Services

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