MORE MONEY FOR HEALTH REGIONS TO MAINTAIN SERVICES

Health Minister John Nilson announced today that an additional $19 million will be provided to Regional Health Authorities (RHAs) in order to maintain community health services.

While the allocations announced on March 31st, 2004 provided overall funding increases to regional health authorities ranging from 3.3 to 6.6 per cent, they did not match the cost of providing health care in the province.
After careful review of options examined by RHAs, the Government of Saskatchewan has decided to provide an additional $19 million in resources to the RHAs. Therefore, $13 million in new money will be added to the Health department budget and $6 million will be re-allocated from within the department's budget.

Administrative efficiencies, service changes and program changes in the range of $20 million will also be undertaken by health regions.

Twelve communities will be affected by facility changes, but all will continue to have health services in their community. In these communities, changes might include: a reduction in hours of service, integrating facilities located in the same community, facility conversions (i.e. from hospital to health centre), or bed reductions and some associated job loss. The department and the health regions will continue working with the communities to ensure smooth transitions.

Nilson said these facility changes will be consistent with the principles outlined in The Action Plan for Saskatchewan Health Care, released in 2001.

Nilson added that regional health authorities will continue discussions within their communities about how we can make the most effective use of our health care resources. "Over the past several years, we have been guided by the Action Plan as we introduced changes to health care in this province. In the coming months we will continue to look very carefully at all our health care spending. This will not be an easy task, but it is one that I know all Saskatchewan residents expect. These efficiency changes will take us one step closer to a sustainable health care system."

(List of affected communities/facilities attached).

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For More Information, Contact:

Mark Rathwell Health Regina Phone: (306) 787-4083