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News
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Fogo Island hospital should be opened to full capacity November 29, 2005
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Opposition Leader Gerry Reid is once again calling upon government to open
the Fogo Island hospital to full capacity to ensure the health care needs of
residents are being met. Reid raised the issue during today’s question
period in the House of Assembly. The 20 bed Fogo Island hospital was approved and constructed under the former Liberal government. During the 2003 election campaign, Premier Williams promised to open this facility to its full capacity. After taking office, Premier Williams ignored his campaign promise and closed ten beds. The facility remains at half capacity while seniors are being sent off Fogo Island to receive the care they require. "The need for a 20 bed facility on Fogo Island has already been demonstrated through a needs assessment completed several years ago," said Mr. Reid. "For government to ignore these recommendations and refuse to open this hospital to its full capacity is shameful. Seniors are being sent to other communities off Fogo Island, away from their family and friends, to receive long-term care. This is unacceptable and government must reverse this poorly thought-out decision. "The Premier and the Minister of Health and Community Services continuously state that the decision to close ten beds on Fogo Island was a decision of the Central Health Board. I have spoken to a board member who confirmed that the board did not make the recommendation and it was actually the Premier who announced these bed closures after a speech to the Gander Chamber of Commerce. Board members and the former Chairperson actually learned of the decision through the media. "If the current Chairperson of the Board believes these beds should remain closed, I call upon the Premier and Minister of Health to intervene and reverse this decision. The Premier overruled the Central School Board with regards to the closure of a school in Bishops Falls during the Exploits by-election, and I call upon government to step in and reverse this decision as well. The people of Fogo Island deserve quality health care and I expect the Premier to live up to his election promise."
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