Sydney (NS) – February 18, 2010 –The Government of Canada, through Enterprise Cape Breton Corporation (ECBC), is contributing $725,000 to the Cape Breton Regional Hospital Foundation’s Cape Breton Cares Fundraising Campaign in support of enhanced cancer and neonatal care in Cape Breton. The announcement was made today by the Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of National Defence, on behalf of the Honourable Keith Ashfield, Minister of National Revenue, Minister of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency and Minister for the Atlantic Gateway.
“The Cape Breton Cancer Centre and the Cape Breton District Health Authority are major contributors to the local economy,” said Minister MacKay. “They provide essential services to the community that help build and sustain an environment that will attract further investment and generate economic growth. ECBC is pleased to join in the community’s efforts to support this important project.”
There are two cancer centres and neonatal intensive care units (NICU) in Nova Scotia. Both of these specialized services are available at the Cape Breton Regional Hospital.
“We have to keep pace with changing technologies, therapies and treatments in order to provide the highest level of care for our patients," says John Malcom, CEO of the Cape Breton District Health Authority. "With new equipment, specialists in both the Cape Breton Cancer Centre (CBCC) and the NICU will be able to provide enhanced care for more patients, allowing them to be treated close to home and family at a time when they need them the most."
The Regional Hospital Foundation is raising funds to expand the CBCC and to purchase state-of-the-art diagnostic and surgical equipment for cancer care, as well as monitors for the NICU. The total cost of the project is $9.8 million. The Government of Canada has already committed $5 million to the expansion of the CBCC through its Health Care Wait Times Guarantee Agreement with the Province of Nova Scotia.
Each day, more than 100 patients rely on the CBCC for diagnosis and treatment. When the CBCC first opened in 1998, it was estimated that 7,000 patient visits would be made each year. Last year alone, more than 30,000 patient visits were made to the CBCC.
For the past three years, the CBCC was ranked Number 1 in Patient Satisfaction and Level of Care by a national survey. It is the treatment centre for all Cape Bretoners, as well as residents of Antigonish, Guysborough and Pictou counties.
The Regional Hospital’s NICU treated 308 pre-mature and ill babies last year. Because of the level of care these tiny patients received, only eight had to be transported to the IWK in Halifax for treatment.
Since 1991, the Cape Breton Regional Hospital Foundation in partnership with the community has raised more than $12M to purchase medical equipment that has dramatically reduced wait times and provided an increased menu of services – closer to home.
Enterprise Cape Breton Corporation is the principal federal government economic development organization on Cape Breton Island and the Mulgrave area. It offers programs in support of economic development and is responsible for delivering ACOA’s programs in its mandate area.
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INFORMATION:
D.A. Landry
ECBC Communications
902-564-3617