Apr 18, 2016

Western Health is announcing actions to achieve efficiency as a part of the Government Renewal Initiative. Western Health will be implementing these changes and efficiencies to ensure best use of resources. These cost-saving initiatives will result in annual savings of approximately $1,365,400.

“Western Health is committed to providing timely, safe, quality health and community services in a way that represents the most efficient use of public resources,” said Dr. Susan Gillam, Chief Executive Officer.  “The initiatives we are implementing help ensure that we are spending public funds in the best way possible to support a sustainable health system.”

The Western Regional School of Nursing (WRSON) Residence will be repurposed. Western Health will no longer be providing student housing effective September 2016. The residence will be used to accommodate Western Health staff currently in other buildings. WRSON residence provides accommodations for up to sixty-nine (69) students, and includes students from other academic institutions, although the occupancy has been steadily declining. WRSON’s residence is the only one of its kind as other Schools of Nursing in the province have closed residences.

Based on ongoing benchmarking against similar organizations, Western Health has identified additional opportunities for efficiencies without any impact on program delivery. There will be a reduction of 12.8 full time equivalent positions throughout the organization. It is anticipated the reduction of these employees will be achieved by attrition through current vacancies and pending retirements. “Western Health will be working with our employees and unions to minimize impact to our employees,” said Dr. Gillam. “Western Health will be monitoring the implementation of these initiatives to ensure that we are making progress in our performance and that the quality and safety of our programs and services is maintained.”

Western Health values the contribution of its approximately 3,100 employees in ensuring that the organization is responsive to the needs of the region. Western Health will be working to achieve other efficiencies throughout the organization. Western Health is committed to the delivery of timely, safe, quality programs and services for the people of the Western region.

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Media Contact:
Tara Pye
Director of Communications (Acting)
709-637-5252
tarajpye@westernhealth.nl.ca

BACKGROUNDER:

Western Health is one of four regional health authorities in Newfoundland and Labrador with over 3,100 employees and 160 physicians serving a population of approximately 78,000 people.  The authority has an annual operating budget of $349 million and offers a full continuum of health services including acute, long term care, community services, hospital care and Humberwood, a provincial inpatient addiction treatment centre, and Western Regional School of Nursing.  Its geographic boundaries extend from Port aux Basques southeast to Francois, north to Bartlett’s Harbour, and north east to Jackson’s Arm. Western Health's regional office is located in Corner Brook.

Western Health provides a broad range of programs and services to the people of Western Newfoundland. These programs and services are based in community and facility settings. Western Health provides community based services from 24 office sites, community based medical services from 26 medical clinic sites; two hospitals: Sir Thomas Roddick Hospital in Stephenville and Western Memorial Regional Hospital in Corner Brook; four health centres: Dr. Charles L. LeGrow Health Centre in Port aux Basques, Bonne Bay Health Centre in Norris Point, Calder Health Centre in Burgeo and Rufus Guinchard Health Centre in Port Saunders; and two long term care facilities: Corner Brook Long Term Care Home in Corner Brook and Bay St. George Long Term Care Centre in Stephenville Crossing. Within its facilities, Western Health operates 293 acute care beds, and 434 long term care beds, 14 restorative care beds, as well as 40 enhanced assisted living beds for individuals with mild to moderate dementia.

Western Health accomplishes their mandate through six lines of business: promoting health and well-being; preventing illness and injury; providing supportive care; treating illness and injury; providing rehabilitative services; administering distinctive provincial programs. Programs and services that promote health and well-being include health promotion and health protection activities. Preventing illness and injury occurs through early intervention and use of the best possible information as with screening and injury prevention activities. Programs and services that provide supportive care include: community health nursing; community supportive services; maternal, child and family health; long term care and residential services; mental health and addictions. Programs and services that treat illness and injury are primary and secondary in nature and include ambulatory care, emergency, maternal, medical, pediatric and surgical services. Rehabilitation services such as such as physiotherapy, occupational therapy and speech-language are provided in community and facility settings. Western Health is also responsible for Humberwood, an Inpatient Addictions Treatment Program. In addition, Western Health operates the Western Regional School of Nursing.

Western Health has approximately 1,300 volunteers who assist in delivering a number of programs and services and special events within acute care, long term care and community, which enhance the quality of life for patients, residents, and clients.