HEARTLAND HEALTH REGION IMPROVES PATIENT CARE AND STAFF SAFETY

Released on March 4, 2005

Heartland Health Region has received $580,000 in federal funding to improve patient care and make its health facilities safer for staff. The funding is part of the $66 million given to Saskatchewan as a result of the 2004 First Ministers' Meeting.

Saskatchewan Health has approved the Regional Health Authority's plan to address safety and patient care priorities in its health facilities. The amount of funding the region received is based on the percentage of long-term, acute care and mental health beds in the health region.

"This funding will help patients, by providing equipment that contributes directly to their care and comfort," Health Minister John Nilson said. "It will also benefit caregivers, by helping health regions address staff needs so that we can improve safety and reduce injuries in our health facilities. We are committed to doing everything we can to retain our valuable health care providers and give our patients the best possible care environment."

The health region's planned investments include a new ambulance, electric beds, a therapy tub and patient lifts for long term care facilities, and upgrades of patient monitoring systems.

"Our regional priority is to provide the highest quality of care to residents of the region, and to improve the working environment for our staff," Heartland Regional Health CEO Gene Motruk said. "With this funding, we will improve safety for residents, patients and employees in a majority of our programs and services."

Additional federal funding has been set aside for health regions for other priority areas, including purchasing equipment for surgical suites, reducing surgical and diagnostic wait times, and health provider recruitment and retention.

The federal funding available this fiscal year amounts to about three per cent of Saskatchewan's $2.7 billion annual health budget. Of the $66 million dollars provided, Heartland Health Region will directly receive approximately $1 million.

-30-

For More Information, Contact:

Carla Roppel Communications, Heartland Health Region Rosetown Phone: (306) 882-4111