Roles of community hospitals will be refocused, increases will be made to the Island’s emergency vehicle fleet, the first Collaborative Emergency Centre will be established at Western Hospital.
The P.E.I. government has committed to continue dialysis treatment at all four locations across the province – Alberton, Summerside, Charlottetown and Souris.
Over the past several months, Health P.E.I. has been conducting an internal review of dialysis services in Prince Edward Island and planning for the future needs of Islanders.
“We are pleased with the dialysis services currently in place across the province, and we are committed to continuing those services,” said Health and Wellness Minister Doug Currie.
He was speaking Tuesday afternoon at a press conference in Charlottetown providing details on health care services in the province.
The announcement also included additional ambulances and enhanced uses for community hospitals across the province.
Better Access, Better Care means improving access to health care in Prince Edward Island by keeping emergency rooms open, reducing patient wait times, strengthening our health care facilities and providing better health care for Islanders and their families, said Currie.
“Every person in Prince Edward Island uses our health care system, so we need it to be as efficient as possible and we need it to be focused on our patients and their needs,” said Currie.
“The mix of services currently provided at our hospital facilities has not kept pace with the changing needs of our population. Improvements are necessary to ensure that Islanders have access to the services they require, when they need them most.”
Over the next month, community meetings will be held across the province to further explain the system changes. Details can also be found online at www.betteraccessbettercare.ca or by calling 1-800-236-5196.
For more on how these changes will affect Islanders, pick up a copy of Wednesday's Journal Pioneer.
