Released on March 3, 2000
Health Minister Pat Atkinson has confirmed approval of the 1999-2000 BudgetPlan for the South East Health District.
The plan outlines how the district is providing services to meet the health
needs of its residents. It provides for:
A hospital in Estevan that provided in-patient acute care to 3,087
people last year. In addition, the hospital performs an estimated 600
in-patient and day surgeries a year and offers numerous out-patient
services, such as addiction counselling;
Combined nursing homes/health centres in Gainsborough, Fillmore, Oxbow,
Lampman and Midale, providing acute and long-term care as well as
health promotion and disease prevention programs such as physiotherapy,
respiratory therapy and recreational therapy;
Nursing homes in Estevan, Stoughton and Carnduff, which serve
approximately 330 people every year;
Home care services to more than 800 people a year and respite care
services to an estimated 100 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 1,264 ambulance trips in 1998/99; and
Services to help people improve their health and prevent illness and
injuries including child health clinics, communicable disease control,
environmental health and public safety.
"The South East Health District is working hard to provide and improve service
to its residents," Atkinson said. "This district was innovative in developing
a national award-winning 'Energy Savings Initiative.' I am particularly pleased
to see the District reallocating the financial savings from that initiative
back into patient care."
Board Chair Earl Kickley said, "I would like to commend our management and
staff for not only meeting the challenges of fiscal accountability, but for
their initiative in negotiating innovative partnerships with Saskatchewan
Government Insurance for the Acquired Brain Injury program, and the Parenting
Skills Education program provided through the financial support of Social
Services."
Provincial funding to the South East Health District, including one time
funding for Y2K and other purposes, is $20.1 million this year, up from $18.3
million last year - a 9.7 per cent increase. The district has planned for a
surplus of $250,000.
"The South East 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 Gerry Hildebrand
Communications Branch CEO
Saskatchewan Health South East Health District
Phone: (306) 787-4088 Phone: (306) 637-3600