MORE FUNDING FOR NURSES IN EAST CENTRAL HEALTH DISTRICT

Released on May 22, 1998

Health Minister Clay Serby today announced additional funding for

nursing positions. The East Central Health District will receive

$360,000 to meet urgent needs and improve quality of care.



"We've been listening to what people are saying about health care and

the need to increase the number of front line workers," Serby said.

"We've announced additional funding to support front line nursing

staff. Our goal is to ensure quality of care in our health system and

to provide for some additional positions where they are most needed."



Serby announced on May 19 that 200 new nurses will be hired across the

province. The government will invest an estimated $9 million from

this year's $1.72 billion health budget. The funding will be targeted

to the districts that provide a higher level of acute care services.



East Central Health District Chair Mary Anderson said, "We welcome

these additional funds for front-line nursing positions and we're

pleased to see the focus on providing high quality health services to

our residents.



"We'll be talking with our district staff and members of the

Saskatchewan Union of Nurses to determine how best to apply this

funding as we develop our staffing plans."



Serby has also pledged to work with unions, districts,

professional associations, the Saskatchewan Association of Health

Organizations and educational institutions to develop a health

human resources strategy to address the needs of front-line

health workers and longer-term recruitment and retention issues.



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For more information, contact:



Jeff Brown

Communications and Public Information Branch

Saskatchewan Health

Regina

Phone: (306) 787-4088



Bonnie-Jean Muir

Director of Communications

East Central Health District

Yorkton

Phone: (306) 786-0505