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NL Health Services Reaches First Year Milestone

News ReleasesProvincial
Posted: April 1, 2024

Today, Newfoundland and Labrador (NL) Health Services is recognizing its first year in operation as a provincial health authority. On April 1, 2023, the transition from the four legacy regional health authorities and the Newfoundland and Labrador Centre for Health Information to a single provincial health authority officially began. This was initiated in response to recommendations from Health Accord NL to integrate and streamline provincial programs and services to offer more efficient and effective health-care delivery across Newfoundland and Labrador.

“Reflecting on our first year as NL Health Services, we have a great deal to be proud of as we embarked on the monumental task of transforming the delivery of health care throughout our province,” said David Diamond, CEO, NL Health Services. “Significant change such as this can be challenging, and we thank our staff and physicians for keeping the needs of our patients, residents and clients at the forefront while being champions for transforming and improving the health-care system.”

During its first year of operation, NL Health Services has been focused on sustaining the health-care services we provide, while continuing to achieve accomplishments in many priority areas, including:

  • The roll out of Family Care Teams throughout the province. There are currently 19 teams approved and in various stages of operation. Family Care Teams help improve access and continuity of primary health care for individuals and families.
  • As announced in the Provincial Budget 2024, the implementation of a new health information system (HIS) to replace antiquated systems and applications throughout the province into a new modernized provincial system.
  • The introduction of a Health Transformation Framework that reimagines health to find more creative, integrated, and effective ways to improve health outcomes and health equity, so that everyone has the chance to be as healthy as possible in Newfoundland and Labrador.
  • The implementation of recruitment and retention strategies to ensure the required health-care professionals and physicians are in place to provide high quality care. This includes beginning the development of a retention strategy to strengthen positive workplace culture and practice environments, and increasing representation from equity-deserving groups (e.g., Indigenous, Black/racialized, 2SLGBTQ+) in health workforce initiatives; and
  • A partnership with the Provincial Government on the Work in Health NL campaign (https://workinhealthnl.ca/) which features opportunities and incentives to work in all fields of health care in Newfoundland and Labrador.
  • Construction of the new Mental Health and Addictions Centre in St. John’s is well underway with plans to open next year. This 102-bed facility will create a holistic and welcoming environment conducive towards recovery.
  • The new Western Memorial Regional Hospital in Corner Brook will open to the public on June 2, 2024. The modern 164-bed, seven story acute care hospital will provide quality patient care with individual inpatient rooms, state-of-the-art treatment rooms, and enhanced diagnostics systems.
  • Correctional Services received funding of $1.4 million from the Provincial Government to begin Hepatitis C treatment in correctional facilities across Newfoundland and Labrador.
  • A partnership with the Qalipu First Nations to strengthen our understanding of reconciliation and to add an Indigenous Navigator to the team in the Western Zone.
  • The addition of new virtual care services to expand capacity of primary and emergency health-care delivery in Newfoundland and Labrador was announced in November 2023.
  • The Pharmacy Residency Program achieved a six-year accreditation status by the Canadian Pharmacy Residency Board in March 2024 – the longest status conferrable.
  • Strategic Health Networks (SHNs) have been established in four key areas (primary health care/family care teams, health of the older adult, emergency and surgery). Members of the networks work collaboratively to ensure there is a strategic, provincial approach to align services, initiatives, and planning across zones and provincial programs (as appropriate) to ensure consistency, coordination, quality, efficiency, and system sustainability.
  • Endovascular Thrombectomy (EVT) has been expanded to Eastern-Rural and Central Zones; increased service hours to 24/7; and introduced extended treatment timelines for select patients. The program will continue to expand across the province. EVT is a stroke treatment for patients with acute ischemic strokes which occur when blood vessels are obstructed, limiting the blood supply to the brain. EVT removes these stroke-causing clots and can substantially improve outcomes.
  • The new chemotherapy unit at Dr. H. Bliss Murphy Cancer Centre in St. John’s opened to patients on June 26, 2023, and accommodates both patients of the provincial Cancer Care Program and outpatient hematology oncology services. The state-of-the-art unit design is based on best practice, is patient-centred and provides benefits to staff and health-care providers.
  • The new emergency department at Bonavista Peninsula Health Centre opened for patient care on October 24, 2023, and was designed to provide a larger, more efficient space for patients and staff. The new space has additional capacity with seven treatment spaces and state-of-the-art equipment. It also follows best practice for the triage of patients and supports improved patient flow throughout the department.
  • Labour and delivery services at James Paton Memorial Regional Health Centre resumed on March 18, 2024, with renovations completed on the unit; relocation of pediatrics and gynecology patients to the obstetrics unit; appropriate services and staffing in place; and a midwifery and nursing team established to support clients.

“Thank you once again to all residents of Newfoundland and Labrador for embracing this change and putting their trust in us to transform our province’s health services,” continued Mr. Diamond. “As we look ahead in the future, we commit to the people of the province that we will stand by the core values NL Health Services stands for: Innovation, Compassion, Accountability, Respect, and Excellence, or ICARE, and we will work together as a unified entity to improve health outcomes for the people of Newfoundland and Labrador.”

NL Health Services will continue to focus on implementing the recommendations outlined in the Health Accord, with the goal to create a more integrated, accessible, technologically-enhanced, equitable and sustainable health system.

For the most up-to-date information on NL Health Services’ programs and services, please visit:

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