(June 6, 2023, St. John’s) – David Brazil, PC Official Opposition Leader, and Paul Dinn, PC Official Opposition Shadow Minister for Health and Community Services, say the people of the Baie Verte region need a plan from the Liberal Government to keep their healthcare centre staffed and open.

“Consistent closures, diversions becoming the norm, and no doctor since April are all reasons for concern for the people of Baie Verte. Healthcare is not optional: when someone is in their time of need, they don’t have two hours to make the drive to Grand Falls-Windsor to be assessed,” said Brazil.

“The Liberal Government makes promises, but the stories around our province continue to get worse. The Liberal Government is ignoring the needs of rural and remote parts of Newfoundland and Labrador. These communities need access to healthcare – not locked emergency room doors.”

Dinn says Baie Verte is one of the healthcare centres seeing frequent closures throughout our province.

“It’s hard to find other options for healthcare in the Baie Verte region when the healthcare centre in Springdale also faces frequent closures. The story is all too familiar for the people of Whitbourne, New-Wes-Valley, St. Lawrence, Harbour Breton, Bell Island, and beyond,” said Dinn.

“If the Liberal Government is making closed emergency rooms in rural Newfoundland and Labrador their policy, then they should say so. It’s frustrating to see promises made, but not delivered by this government. The Liberals claim healthcare is their top priority, but locked doors and two-hour drives for healthcare show a lack of action that is harming the people of our province.”

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Contacts:

David Maher

Director of Strategic Communications

(cell) 709-725-0984

DavidMaher@gov.nl.ca