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Judy Foote, MHA for the District of Grand Bank, says she is very
disappointed with the failure of the PC government to provide funding for
health infrastructure and diagnostic equipment for the Burin Peninsula.
"This government has once again failed to provide much needed investment in
health care on the Burin Peninsula," said Foote. "By their actions today, it
is obvious the government has written off the Burin Peninsula. Once again
they have with-held funding for the new health care facility in Grand Bank,
ignored pleas from the residents on the Burin Peninsula for a CT scanner
previously promised by the Liberal government, and turned their backs on a
request for badly needed dialysis services. Not only am I upset with the PC
government, but disappointed that the PC member for Burin-Placentia West
obviously has no influence with the government of which he is a member."
"This year, as a result of increased revenues from Ottawa, government
announced a number of new expenditures in health care. I do not understand
why the needs of the people in this region were not included for any of the
new money, even though the need had been identified by health professionals.
With a PC member representing Burin-Placentia West, certainly the government
could have seen fit to put a CT Scanner in Burin for the benefit of all
residents of the Burin Peninsula. They announced funding for initiatives in
other PC districts for planning for long-term care facilities in Corner
Brook, Clarenville and Happy Valley-Goose Bay and another MRI machine for
St. John’s.
"Given the geography of the Burin Peninsula and the adverse weather
conditions, health care professionals recommended that a CT scanner be
placed on the Burin Peninsula. They also recommended that a new health care
facility be constructed to replace the Blue Crest Home and the 70 year old
cottage hospital in Grand Bank. The CT scanner was deferred and construction
of the health care facility halted last year by the PC government as a cost
savings measure. It was expected by residents of the area that these
decisions would have been reversed this year with all the new funding the
federal government has poured into the province, especially the new health
care money.
" The Williams government will have to answer for their neglect of health
care needs in this area and other rural areas of the province."
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