FUNDING FOR SURGICAL AND SAFETY EQUIPMENT

The Saskatchewan government has approved nearly $18 million in funding to health regions for safety equipment and training and surgical equipment.

Health Minister Don McMorris said $13 million will provide safety equipment and training to all health regions to reduce workplace injuries. An additional $4.8 million will be used to upgrade equipment in hospital operating rooms and recovery rooms.

"There is a pressing need for new equipment in health facilities across Saskatchewan," McMorris said. "This investment will help address workplace safety issues and ensure that our hospitals have the appropriate equipment to meet patients' needs."

More than $8 million will be shared between Saskatoon and Regina Qu'Appelle Health Regions, which provide about 75 per cent of hospital operating room procedures done in the province. The remainder of the funding will be distributed to the other health regions and the Saskatchewan Cancer Agency.

The funding for safety equipment and training is part of a three-year, $31 million commitment announced in the fall. It includes $1.1 million to provide additional safety training for supervisors and training in the use of new safety equipment such as patient lifts. These resources will help health regions to implement new amendments to the Occupational Health and Safety Act and Regulations.

The surgical equipment funding comes from the Patient Wait Time Guarantee Trust - $25 million in one time federal funding given to Saskatchewan earlier this year in exchange for implementing a wait time guarantee for cardiac bypass surgery by 2010.

McMorris added the initiatives will support efforts to recruit and retain health professionals by enabling health regions to provide safer, more supportive workplaces.

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For more information, contact:

Andrew Dinsmore
Health
Regina
Phone: 306-787-4083
Email: adinsmore@health.gov.sk.ca