Released on March 26, 1999
Health Minister Pat Atkinson today said rural communities will seebetter services as a result of this year's increased health budget.
"We continue to enhance services to rural Saskatchewan through
hospitals, community health centres and primary health service sites,
along with emergency services and home care," Atkinson said. "Home
care funding will be increased by $5.2 million, recognizing rising
needs. The total increase in the home care budget since 1991-92 has
been more than 130 per cent."
The budget provides for expansion of specialized services to make them
more accessible to rural residents. This includes expanding the
operation of the two newest dialysis satellite sites and adding one
further site, as recommended by the Integrated Renal Steering
Committee.
"We will also improve access to CT scan services in southern
Saskatchewan with the acquisition of a mobile CT scanner. Outreach
cancer treatment centres, now in 15 districts, will be further
expanded."
Atkinson said all districts will benefit from funding for 10 new
mental health counsellor positions. Other initiatives of
particular benefit for rural residents include:
an improved provincial poison control service; and
improved transport of critically ill or injured infants
through the Neonatal Transport Service.
Atkinson said rural health care in Saskatchewan is demonstrably
better today thanks to recent enhancements, including:
emergency service improvements such as single number
calling, Fleetnet technology and improved training and
skills for emergency workers;
health facilities that offer a broader range of services
than ever before. They offer not only emergency and chronic
care, but palliative care, respite care and visiting
professionals such as chiropodists, dieticians and
physiotherapists;
ensuring the supply of rural physicians through the
Emergency Room coverage, weekend on-call relief, rural
practice establishment grants, training programs and locum
relief; and
telehealth projects using videoconference technology to link
physicians, specialists and patients.
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For more information, contact:
Jeff Brown
Communications Branch
Saskatchewan Health
Regina
Phone: (306) 787-4088