Corner Brook MHA Gerry Byrne says the area needs a new long term care centre and more money into healthcare recruitment

    Thursday, 13 February 2025 07:00

    By Tonya Organ

    He says the only acceptable long term solution is a new long term centre to be built next to the new hospital.

    Corner Brook MHA Gerry Byrne says mistakes were made during the planning process for the new Western Memorial Regional Hospital, which opened last year. Since that time, there have been issues in the emergency department whereby patients could not get a bed, leaving them stranded in corridors and storage rooms or even turned away. Byrne says government started working on a solution last fall and on Tuesday announced 45 beds will be added at the Corner Brook Community Health Centre, a.k.a, the old hospital. He says the only acceptable long term solution is a new long term centre to be built next to the new hospital. Meanwhile, nursing agencies may have to be used to fill the gaps with staffing as a result of the additional beds. As well, the new hospital has been recruiting an oncologist for some time now to oversee the new cancer care unit. Byrne says government has invested hundreds of millions of dollars to recruit healthcare professionals and if need be, will invest hundreds more. He says five new dialysis units will be put in place at the new Western Memorial Regional Hospital, filling all stations at the facility. 

     

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