GOVERNMENT ACTS TO STABILIZE HEALTH CARE IN EAST CENTRAL

Released on February 23, 2000

The provincial government is taking action to protect and maintain health care

for people in the Yorkton area.



Health Minister Pat Atkinson today appointed a public administrator to replace

the East Central District Health Board and manage the affairs of the district.



"The East Central health district's financial problems are well known,"

Atkinson said. "This fiscal situation, combined with a number of resignations

from the management team, has created a situation where the government needed

to act to protect and maintain quality health care services in this district."



Atkinson indicated that several members of the district's management team have

resigned in recent months, and that she has just received the resignation of

the board chair.



"This loss of leadership makes it very difficult for the remaining board

members and management team to deal with the issues facing the district,"

Atkinson said. "The government's actions will stabilize the management of the

district so that the quality of care can be protected while the challenges

facing the district can be addressed."



Atkinson said that one challenge is financial. The East Central Health

District's debt load now equals 27 per cent of its annual operating budget. A

recently completed mid-year audit indicates that this year's projected deficit

has grown. Financial projections indicate that without additional support from

the district's lender or the government, the district would be unable to meet

payroll and other obligations on or about March 6.



"I can assure East Central staff and district residents that we will work with

the district to address the immediate financial issues so that the district's

obligations can be met on time," Atkinson said.



Dr. Lorne Klippert will begin serving as public administrator immediately.

Klippert is a former Deputy Minister of Health in Newfoundland and has served

as a public administrator in other settings with problems like those in East

Central. He will work with the management, physicians and employees of the

district to place health services on a sound and sustainable footing.



"The district has many strengths including excellent and hard-working employees

and a dedicated group of physicians," Atkinson said. "We need to ensure that

they can continue to provide the quality health services that the people of

Yorkton and area rely on."



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For more information contact:



Jeff Brown

Saskatchewan Health

Regina

Phone: (306) 787-4088