BUDGET PLAN FOR MOOSE JAW - THUNDER CREEK HEALTH DISTRICT APPROVED

Released on March 3, 2000

Health Minister Pat Atkinson has confirmed approval of the 1999-2000 Budget

Plan for the Moose Jaw – Thunder Creek Health District.



The plan outlines how the district is providing services to meet the health

needs of its residents. It provides for:



Hospitals in Central Butte and Moose Jaw. These facilities provide in-

patient acute care to approximately 4,900 people a year and perform

1,200 in-patient and 3,000 day surgeries a year. They also provide

numerous out-patient services, such as clinics and patient education;



A combined nursing home/health centre in Craik that provides acute and

long-term care services as well as health promotion and disease

prevention programs;



Special care homes in Central Butte and Moose Jaw that serve more than

550 residents a year;



Home care services to an estimated 2,200 people a year and respite care

services to an estimated 180 people a year that enable people to remain

independent in their homes;



Community services such as mental health counselling, public health

(e.g. immunizations) and physical therapy;



Emergency response including 4,000 ambulance trips a year; and



Services to help people improve their health and prevent illness and

injuries. Three examples are the Work-Family-Life initiatives, the

integrated Early Childhood Program, and services provided at the Teen

Wellness Centre.



"The Moose Jaw – Thunder Creek Health District is working hard to provide and

improve service to its residents," Atkinson said. "I am particularly pleased

to see the district undertaking a comprehensive needs assessment focusing on

the one to five age group."



Moose Jaw – Thunder Creek District Health Board Chair Dale Toni said, "We are

proud of the way our community has managed with the difficult decisions we have

made to improve health care delivery. One recent accomplishment we are

particularly proud of is the implementation of our new CT scan service."



Provincial funding to the Moose Jaw – Thunder Creek Health District, including

one-time funding for Y2K and other purposes, is $51.2 million this year, up

from $46.2 million last year - a 10.9 per cent increase in funding. The

district has planned for an operating surplus that will be used to replace or

upgrade capital equipment.



"The Moose Jaw – Thunder Creek Health District is doing a good job of providing

services to meet local needs while managing its resources," Atkinson said.



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For more information, contact:



Jeff Brown Dan Florizone

Communications Branch CEO

Saskatchewan Health Moose Jaw-Thunder Creek Health District

Phone: (306) 787-4088 Phone: (306) 694-0296