Chemotherapy treatments in Grand Falls and Saint-Quentin: services will be maintained

Bathurst, Monday, November 6, 2017 – Vitalité Health Network has obtained the support of the Department of Health following its offer of a solution to maintain the delivery of chemotherapy services at the Grand Falls General Hospital and Hôtel-Dieu Saint-Joseph de Saint-Quentin.

According to Gilles Lanteigne, the Network's president and CEO, the Department of Health received with an open mind the solution that was presented on Thursday, November 2, 2017.  “We are pleased with the support of the Honourable Benoît Bourque, Minister of Health, and his department's staff.  With the promised additional funding, we will be able to implement a new model of care delivery that will allow the Network to keep providing chemotherapy treatments for the Grand Falls and Saint-Quentin populations in their communities" he said.

Work to implement the necessary changes begins today.  According to Lanteigne, the Network's solution meets Canadian standards for quality of care, patient safety, maintenance of nursing staff qualifications and certification, and timely and safe transportation of chemotherapy medications.   “The important thing is that the people of Grand Falls and Saint-Quentin will be able to continue to have good service in their communities and we are very pleased with the positive outcome on this issue” he concluded.