(August 1, 2022) – Paul Dinn, PC Official Opposition Shadow Minister for Health and Community Services and MHA for Topsail-Paradise, is drawing attention to the Furey Liberal government’s “Band-Aid” measures in their attempt to tackle the province’s healthcare crisis.

Dinn is referencing Premier Furey’s comments in mid-July when he stated to CBC News, “sometimes you need a Band-Aid,” when addressing concerns of how many emergency rooms in the province had collectively been closed - more than five months in 2022 alone.

“These ‘Band-Aid’ solutions just don’t cut it. We are witnessing rolling emergency room closures right across the province which is having a tremendous impact on the people of Newfoundland and Labrador. In particular, those in more rural parts of the province.”

“As reported a few days ago, Fogo Island is without a doctor for the first time in more than 200 years. It’s a tragedy that this Liberal government has let the problem get this bad in our province. We see our neighbour Nova Scotia set a record for doctor recruitment in a single year. If we had the same success as Nova Scotia, our doctor shortage would be solved in just a few years,” says Dinn.

It has been announced that emergency services will be unavailable in three separate facilities this week, which include the Dr. William H. Newhook Community Health Centre in Whitbourne, the U.S. Memorial Health Centre in St. Lawrence, and the Bonavista Peninsula Health Centre.

“The fact that three more emergency rooms will be shuttered this week just goes to show that the Furey Liberal government’s ‘Band-Aid’ measures are just not working,” says Dinn.

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Bradley Russell

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bradleyrussell@gov.nl.ca