CBS left in the waiting room when it comes to health care improvements, says MHA

CBS’s healthcare needs forgotten in budget, says Petten

Conception Bay South MHA Barry Petten said he’s disappointed that his town, which is among the fastest-growing communities in Newfoundland, was left out of the provincial budget.

“There was no family care team announced for the region,” said Petten. “The proposed urgent care clinic does not include CBS in its catchment area. With a lack of family doctors and public transit in the region, almost 30,000 residents will have little choice but to head to the emergency room (in St. John’s) for non-emergency care.”

Last week, Premier Andrew Furey announced the Liberal government will create 10 Family Care Teams across the province, including Conception Bay North, Bonavista and Clarenville. The week before that, Health Minister Tom Osborne said government will call tenders on space for a new Urgent Care Centre to be located in St. John’s to ease the burden on the region’s two emergency rooms.

Petten said the residents of CBS need greater support from government when it comes to their healthcare.

“If the point of these teams and urgent care clinics is to ease pressure on emergency rooms, then there’s no reason CBS should be forgotten through these initiatives,” said the PC member. “Yet, the Liberal Government doesn’t seem to agree. It’s not acceptable and means more uncertainty in healthcare for residents in the area. Access to healthcare is paramount and right now the people of CBS are left with little choice outside of a lengthy, needless stay in an emergency room. It’s time for the Liberal Government to prioritize healthcare in the region and ensure the seniors and young families in the area have the access they need to healthcare.”