GOVERNMENT SUPPORTS PEDIATRIC CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE IN SASKATOON

The provincial government today announced support, in principle, for the concept of a children's 'hospital-within-a-hospital' to be located in Saskatoon.

"Meeting the needs of a small and dispersed child population is both a priority and a challenge," Health Minister John Nilson said. "We want to take the concentration of pediatric resources in Saskatoon and make these more readily available for the entire province."

Although most of Saskatoon's pediatric services are currently located together, structural changes to create a child-friendly facility will make hospital stays better for children and their families. The children's 'hospital-within-a-hospital' is part of the longer-term considerations to reconfigure hospital services in Saskatoon.

"Because Saskatoon is already home to many pediatric training programs and subspecialties such as cardiology, immunology, neurology and respirology, and because of the concentration of academic programming offered in Saskatoon, we think there are many advantages to creating a centre of excellence for children in Saskatoon," Nilson said.

"The concept of a children's hospital is a proven, efficient and effective means to provide excellence in children's health care," Saskatoon Health Region Department of Pediatrics Head, Dr. Bill Bingham said. "This children's centre will allow us to teach our next generation of professional pediatric health care providers, to conduct much needed research and to facilitate child advocacy."

Saskatchewan is served by physicians and health clinics across the province that refer children to local pediatricians, or to more specialized services in major centres. There are more than 450 designated in-patient pediatric and/or newborn beds dispersed throughout 45 hospitals in Saskatchewan.

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For More Information, Contact:

Jocelyn Argue Health Regina Phone: (306) 787-4083