Liberal Leader John Hogan promised to create 14 new family care teams and 10 mobile teams if re-elected during a campaign stop in Botwood on Tuesday. (Maddie Ryan/CBC)
John Hogan and the Newfoundland and Labrador Liberal campaign gathered under the gaze of a larger-than-life Dr. Hugh Twomey portrait for a health-care promise on Tuesday morning.
The mural on the side of a busy Foodland in Botwood — one of many in the central N.L. town — was an apt setting for the Liberal leader to commit to creating 14 new family care teams and 10 mobile teams if elected.
The mobile teams would travel to rural communities to provide the same care expected from a family physician, Hogan explained. The first team would consist of a doctor and a registered nurse who would regularly travel to Fortune Harbour, Point Leamington and Leading Tickle.Â
A re-elected Liberal government would work with municipalities to determine how and where each mobile team would operate, Hogan said. He also said he will review the funding model for family physicians, despite not sharing how much the new teams would cost to hire.Â
“We need to be flexible,” he said. “For all too long communities have not been a part of the recruitment and retention of health professionals in Canada.”Â
Twenty-one family care teams have been created since 2023, according to Newfoundland and Labrador Health Services. The health authority describes them as teams of multi-disciplinary professionals that can provide personalized treatment and resources.
The Liberal Party said more than 110,000 patients have received primary care as a result — and they hope to bump that figure to 150,000 by the end of next year.
Outgoing Point Leamington Mayor Wilf Mercer said that plan will make the situation in his community a whole lot better.
“It would be great to get [a doctor], especially because we have a lot of older people now,” Mercer told CBC News.Â
He said that it’s been at least 30 years since Point Leamington has had a doctor practice locally.
PCs go for air
In the latest in a series of health-care promises, PC Leader Tony Wakeham is promising his government will create a daily medical air transportation service based out of Gander to serve patients in rural Newfoundland and Labrador.
Standing at a podium on the tarmac at the Gander International Airport, Wakeham said the service will fly patients to and from appointments for medical services unavailable in their area — for free.
“This is a real investment that will make a real difference for patients and families across the province,” he said during his speech.
However, when asked how much that investment would cost, Wakeham was unable to provide a specific figure.Â
Earlier this month, before calling the election, Liberal Leader John Hogan announced a $561.7 million, 10-year deal with the private, not-for-profit company Medavie to integrate the province’s road and air ambulance systems.
As part of that deal, Medavie will increase the frequency of medical flights to Labrador, and operate an emergency helicopter medical service based in Gander.
PC Leader Tony Wakeham and PC candidate Tom Healey made a health-care announcement in Gander on Tuesday. (Darrell Roberts/CBC)
Unlike that plan, Wakeham said the service he is proposing will go beyond emergency care and cover regularly scheduled appointments, including specialist visits, surgical procedures and medical care.
Wakeham said his proposal would be part of the Medavie ambulance-integration deal.
“I’m quite confident that if there’s $500 million to be spent on providing that type of service then we can look and find the money needed for this one within that total allocation,” he said.
Tom Healey, the PC candidate for Gander, knows his way around the airport. He’s been an air traffic controller at the Gander control tower for eight years.Â
He said the shortage of health-care workers is the main issue he’s heard in conversations with voters.
“We see it through the whole health-care system, especially in Gander where you’ve got to travel elsewhere to get your treatments,” he said.
Healey is running against Liberal candidate Bettina Ford, the town’s deputy mayor, and NDP candidate Justin Foley.Â
John Haggie, the former MHA for the area, announced he wouldn’t seek reelection earlier this year.
NDPÂ promise financial reform
NDP Leader Jim Dinn spent Tuesday reiterating promises to bring forward political finance reform if elected, but told reporters his plans would be in place within his first 100 days as premier.
“We will not be waiting,” he said.
NDP Leader Jim Dinn promises political reform within the first 100 days if he’s elected premier. (Mark Quinn/CBC)
Dinn told reporters last week a ban on corporate and union donations to political parties will help restore people’s trust in government and end “insider politics.”
“The people of the province need to trust that decisions are being made in their best interest. And when you have a pattern of behaviour, people lose trust,” Dinn said Tuesday.
“We have some realistic, very practical plans, all within a costed budget that can work. What’s most remarkable to me, I guess, and to our members, is why either one of these governments have never come up [and] taken a similar approach. Again, who’s calling the tune?”
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