Released on March 3, 2000
Health Minister Pat Atkinson has confirmed approval of the 1999-2000 BudgetPlan for the Northwest Health District.
The plan outlines how the district is providing services to meet the health
needs of its residents. It provides for:
Hospitals in Loon Lake and Meadow Lake. These facilities provided in-
patient acute care to 2,020 people last year. The Meadow Lake hospital
performs an estimated 200 in-patient and 700 day surgeries a year, in
addition to numerous out-patient services, such as physiotherapy and
occupational therapy;
Combined nursing home/hospital in Loon Lake and combined nursing
home/health centre in Goodsoil providing acute and long-term care as
well as health promotion and disease prevention programs such as Heart
Health Programs, Diabetes Education Clinics and Healthy Babies Right
From The Start program;
Nursing homes in Meadow Lake, Loon Lake and Goodsoil which serve more
than 100 people every year;
Home care to an estimated 480 people and respite care to more than 50
people a year which 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 936 ambulance trips in 1998/99;
Services to help people improve their health and prevent illness and
injuries including a defensive driving program, water fluoridation
program and public safety programs such as the snowmobile safety
program; and
Continued support to the Telehealth pilot project.
"The Northwest Health District is working hard to provide and improve service
to its residents," Atkinson said. "I am particularly pleased to see the
district will be completing its new health facility complex this spring which
will provide a more modern, co-ordinated delivery of health services in the
community of Meadow Lake."
"The Telehealth Project has helped district residents get faster access to
specialty services without having to leave the district," Northwest Health
District Board Chair Dale Green. "Telehealth has also provided support to
health providers and has improved the utilization of specialist resources.
This project has been a positive endeavour that has many unrealized
opportunities for the future."
Provincial funding to the Northwest Health District, including one-time funding
for Y2K and other purposes, is $9.8 million this year, up from $9 million last
year - a 9 per cent increase. The district has planned for a surplus of
$480,000.
"The Northwest Health District is doing a good job of providing services to
meet local needs while managing its resources," Atkinson said. "This modest
surplus will contribute to the long term stability of health care services in
the district."
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For more information, contact:
Jeff Brown Irene Denis, CEO
Saskatchewan Health Northwest Health District
Phone: (306) 787-4088 Phone: (306) 236-5777