(April 14, 2021) – Paul Dinn, MHA for Topsail-Paradise and PC Opposition Shadow Minister of Health, and Lela Evans, MHA for Torngat Mountains and PC Opposition Shadow Critic for Labrador Affairs, says a 36 hour wait for a Medevac in Labrador is unacceptable and a story too often told.

Dinn was reacting to phone calls and media reports of a man in Port Hope Simpson who waited a day and a half for an emergency Medevac to St. John’s.

“The story out of Port Hope Simpson is unacceptable and outrageous. Access to emergency medical treatment cannot be based on area code, but on the needs of the people who require urgent care,” said Dinn.

“I call on the Minister to review what happened in this situation and report to the House of Assembly with a plan to ensure this never happens again. My heart goes out to the family at the centre of this. The people of Newfoundland and Labrador deserve better.”

Evans says the situation is deeply troubling and seen all too often throughout Labrador.

“The nurse assessed that the gentleman needed to be Medevac’d on Friday morning. Weather did not prevent his transfer, a failure to deal with the medical emergency at hand is really what resulted in a 36 hour delay preventing this man for accessing adequate medical care,” said Evans.

“Today we’re talking about this terrible incident on the South Coast of Labrador, but the truth is that this type of situation unfolds in Labrador too often. For too long the people of Labrador have suffered delays resulting in organ damage, longer healing time, disability, or death. It has to change.”

Dinn and Evans are calling on Minister Dempster and Minister Haggie for a full investigation into the incident that will be made public upon its completion to get to the truth of the matter. They are calling for transparency for what happened in this situation so government can prevent any future incidents in Labrador.
 

Contacts:

David Maher

Director of Communications

(p) (709) 769-2216

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