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Petition
Presented May 28, 2009
Dialysis Unit for Western Newfoundland
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MR. SPEAKER: The
hon. the Opposition House Leader.
MR. KELVIN PARSONS: Thank
you, Mr. Speaker.
I take this, probably
final opportunity during this sitting of the House to
present a petition. I think it is my twelfth during this
session on behalf of the people of South Western
Newfoundland, in regards to the lack of dialysis
services in that particular area of the Province, from
Grand Bruit, down the coast to LaPoile, right on up to
the Codroy Valley. Anyone who needs those services, of
course, has to go to either Stephenville or Corner Brook
at the present time. There is no question the need has
been established, and of course if people can get these
services and treatments in their own community that is
what the goal is all about.
I have had some
discussions with the Minister of Health, briefly, on
this issue since I have been raising it here in the
House. I am aware, and the minister is now aware that
there is a study being undertaken, a report being
compiled by the chief of staff of the Dr. L. LeGrow
Health Centre in Port aux Basques, and a nephrologist at
Corner Brook.
We know that the report
would deal with issues of space, which we know that we
do have in the LeGrow Centre, to place the operation. We
do know, as well, that there is certain equipment that
will be needed to do it, if you have a satellite
operation. Of course, there has to be determination made
as well, as to whether we have home dialysis or we have
a satellite operation.
So, we are looking
forward to the report being compiled quickly. We hope we
get a faster response from the minister and the
minister’s office to the report that is being compiled
than we have had in the past. Part of the problem here
is getting people who are in the Department of Health to
acknowledge that there is a need and to acknowledge and
start to make the wheels turn to provide some solutions
to solve the problem. Everybody is aware of it. The
minister knows the problem is there. We would like to
see some positive actions back to show that he is aware
of it and that the department is aware of it and they
are prepared to do something about it.
The people of South
Western Newfoundland deserve no less better treatment
than anybody else in this Province. Whether you are in
Lab City, whether you are in Stephenville, Corner Brook
or Grand Bank, the issues of travel and the area you
have to travel, geographically is well known, and there
is no reason why, if the cost can be provided for, the
equipment can be provided for by the people of that
area, the space is there, the training is there for the
staff, there is no reason in the world why the people of
that area of the Province should not avail and be given
the opportunity to have the same services for dialysis
as anyone else in this Province.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. |
