SUNRISE HEALTH REGION IMPROVES PATIENT CARE AND STAFF SAFETY

Sunrise Health Region has received $970,000 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.

"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."

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.

The health region's planned investments include patient lifts, bathing systems, floor scrubbers, treatment tables, and physiotherapy equipment.

"Ease for the employee in administering care and optimum comfort for the patient are the goals we hope to achieve with this funding," Sunrise's Chief Executive Officer Joe Kirwan said. "We want to achieve the greatest possible interaction between patient and employee by providing safe, high-quality equipment."

Board Chair Ben Weber was equally pleased. "The additional funding allows us to provide the new equipment necessary for the benefit of both the employee and the patient," Weber said.

"Our residents will benefit from these carefully planned investments in health," Deputy Premier, Rural Revitalization Minister and Yorkton MLA Clay Serby said. "This supports our goal of high quality, timely patient care, and furthers our efforts to address health needs."

Additional federal funding has been set aside for health regions for other priority areas, including purchasing equipment, 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, Sunrise Health Region will directly receive approximately $2.2 million.

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For More Information, Contact:

Scott Donaldson Communications, Sunrise Health Region Yorkton Phone: (306) 786-0733