More care beds announced

Care bed contracts awarded -----------------------------------------------------------------

Contracts have been awarded for another 75 of the more than 800 new long-term care beds being added to Nova Scotia's continuing-care system by 2010. In the Southwest Nova Health District that includes 12 nursing home beds, at Nakile Home for Special Care "Quality of care for Nova Scotians within their home communities is a priority," said Health Minister Chris d'Entremont today, Dec. 17. "With these new long-term care beds, we will ensure that people receive the care they need, when they need it and where they need it."

Contracts were awarded earlier this month to build and operate 552 long-term care beds.

Today's announcement is for the next round of additions of new beds in existing facilities. The projects will be completed no later than March 31, 2010.

The successful facilities are subject to the Department of Health development approval process to ensure they incorporate best practices in long-term care facility design.

The province received 71 bids from 21 different organizations to build the new beds. A number of bids are currently being evaluated for the remainder of the beds.

Last year, the province analyzed the current and predicted long-term care needs in Nova Scotia and identified the areas in which beds are most urgently needed. Nova Scotia's procurement request for proposals process was used to ensure the competition was fair. A third-party procurement analyst ensured it adhered to accepted tender procedures.

The new facilities will give Nova Scotia's seniors high quality care in a home-like environment. Residents will enjoy single rooms in small households of 12 to 15 people, with a shared kitchen and living room, and have direct access to the outdoors. In addition, many of the new long-term care facilities will offer different levels of care and rooms designed specifically for couples. "These new beds will go a long way towards ensuring good quality care as well as reducing wait times and the resulting burden on the overall healthcare system," said d'Entremont.

As part of its 10-year, $260-million continuing care strategy, the province will add more than 1,100 new long-term care beds by 2010. Another 480 new long-term care beds will be added by 2015. By building on community support, increasing local solutions and ensuring care options are available when and where they are needed, the strategy is creating a system that allows Nova Scotians to live well in a place they can call home.

Following is a list of the other new nursing home (NH) and residential care facility (RCF) beds that will be added:

Cape Breton Health District: -- Inverness, 10 RCF beds, Foyer Pere Fiset -- Sydney Mines, 13 RCF beds, Miner's Memorial Manor

Colchester East Hants Health District: -- Tatamagouche, 10 NH beds, Willow Lodge

Cumberland Health District: -- Pugwash, 10 NH beds, East Cumberland Lodge -- Springhill, 20 NH beds, High-Crest Enterprises Ltd.