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News
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Joyce says Premier and Minister Marshall should stop Hay
Report recommendation 172 December 2, 2005
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Eddie Joyce, MHA for the District of Bay of Islands, says Premier Williams
and Minister Tom Marshall, both MHAs for the Corner Brook area, should step
in and stop the implementation of recommendation 172 of the Hay Report. Recommendation 172 of the Hay Report Best Practices Review for the Western Health Care Corporation states that elderly people on the wait list for long-term beds should be transferred to other communities in the western region until appropriate space is available in Corner Brook for their return transfer. This is nothing more than a cost-saving measure due to lack of funds from the provincial government. "On April 20th, Minister Joan Burke stood in the House of Assembly and cancelled two Hay Report recommendations that negatively impacted Stephenville," said Mr. Joyce. "Minister Burke made these announcements as the MHA for the region, not as the Minister of Health and Community Services. I am calling upon Premier Williams and Minister Marshall to stand up for the people of Corner Brook and make a similar announcement. It is not acceptable for one member to unilaterally cancel recommendations, while other members refuse to do likewise. "Shipping seniors out of Corner Brook and away from their family and friends is cruel and inhumane. It is even more unacceptable that family members are not given appropriate notice that these moves are even taking place. For the sake of saving a few dollars, senior citizens are being sent to communities hours away from their homes without easy access to their family and friends. "The Premier and Minister continue to make excuses and deflect attention away from themselves on this issue. While they sit idly by, more seniors are being shipped away daily. I have received several calls from concerned family members who are very upset that this policy is being implemented. They cannot believe a government can be so callous and uncaring for their loved ones in the final years of their lives. "There are currently beds available in vacant wings at the hospital in Corner Brook, what is needed is the political will and financial assistance to open these beds on a temporary basis until the current situation is alleviated. I ask the Premier and Minister to treat the people of Corner Brook the same as those living in Stephenville, reverse this decision and keep seniors in their home community with their family and friends."
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