Reposted from the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador: https://www.gov.nl.ca/releases/2023/exec/0223n04/
February 23, 2023 – St. John’s, NL: The Honourable Dr. Andrew Furey, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, today announced that plans are underway for the construction of a new Cardiovascular and Stroke Institute that will be located at the Health Sciences Centre site in St. John’s.
The new facility, aimed at the prevention and management of cardiac and cerebrovascular disease, which includes what we commonly understand as strokes, will allow for enhanced cardiac, vascular, and stroke services and other clinical services. It will create a modern working environment, and will increase the number of operating rooms and inpatient beds at the Health Sciences Centre.
The Cardiovascular and Stroke Institute aligns with Health Accord NL’s recommendation to create a cardiac centre of excellence to provide an organized hub of tertiary services enabling equitable access to cardiac care.
Premier Furey was joined at this announcement by the Honourable Tom Osborne, Minister of Health and Community Services, Dr. Sean Connors, Chief of Cardiac Care at Eastern Health, Ken Baird, President and CEO (interim) of Eastern Health, and Rhonda Neary, President and Chief Operating Officer of the Newfoundland and Labrador Construction Association.
The institute expansion is in addition to the construction of the new adult mental health and addictions hospital and a redevelopment of the expanded emergency department, both currently under construction at the Health Sciences Centre campus.
Last fall, the Provincial Government established the Northeast Avalon Health Care Infrastructure Advisory Committee to provide advice and guidance on health care infrastructure across the continuum of care, in an effort to meet existing and projected health care infrastructure needs on the Northeast Avalon. The aim is to help realign the delivery of acute care services on the Northeast Avalon, increase access to health care, and ensure the appropriate infrastructure is in place to meet future health care needs.
Quotes
“Our government has a plan for health care in our province, and by working together with all stakeholders, we are starting to see progress. Expanding cardiovascular and stroke services at the Health Sciences Centre, as well as enabling patients to get cardiac catheterization procedures on a same-day, fly-in/fly-out service helps provide timelier access to health care, which is a pillar of Health Accord NL. With this new expansion, the redeveloped emergency department and the new adult mental health and addictions hospital, we look forward to the creation of a modern Health Sciences Centre campus.”
Honourable Dr. Andrew Furey
Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador
“Enhanced cardiovascular and stroke care for our residents is a priority for our government, and today’s announcement signals our commitment to making it a reality. The Cardiovascular and Stroke Institute will provide a centralized approach to heart, stroke and vascular care in our province. It will also play a lead role in our provincial approach to well-being and chronic disease prevention.”
Honourable Tom Osborne
Minister of Health and Community Services
“Adding new operating rooms, more inpatient beds and enhanced cardiovascular and stroke services is another step towards improving healthcare services in our province. Our construction projects at the Health Sciences Centre and our investments in all of our infrastructure projects are creating jobs for tradespeople in Newfoundland and Labrador and we look forward to collaborating with the construction industry on future projects.”
Honourable Elvis Loveless
Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure
“Eastern Health is committed to providing quality health care for our patients, residents and clients. The expansion of the Health Sciences Centre, along with the establishment of the Newfoundland and Labrador Cardiovascular and Stroke Institute, will enhance care while providing an improved working environment in a modern setting for our health-care workers. These initiatives are strategically poised as we begin the transition into a single health authority and implement recommendations of Health Accord NL.”
Ken Baird
President and CEO (Interim), Eastern Health
“I am pleased that this expansion to the Health Sciences Centre will enhance cardiovascular and stroke services. The addition of the Newfoundland and Labrador Cardiovascular and Stroke Institute demonstrates our commitment to providing second to none cardiac care for Newfoundlanders and Labradorians. Through recent initiatives such as providing fly-in same day cardiac catheterization for residents in other regions of our province, the virtual heart function clinic, and now today’s commitment, we are ensuring equitable and timely access to top-quality cardiac services.”
Dr. Sean Connors
Clinical Chief of Cardiac Care, Eastern Health
“The Newfoundland and Labrador Construction Association welcomes the announcement of a new Cardiovascular and Stroke Institute at the Health Sciences Centre site in St. John’s. This investment in healthcare infrastructure will not only provide improved access to care for patients, but also create new job opportunities and drive economic growth in our construction industry.”
Rhonda Neary
President and Chief Operating Officer, Newfoundland and Labrador Construction Association
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