Don’t close hospitals, residents say
A majority of Newfoundland and Labrador residents believe all hospitals in the province should remain open rather than having fewer hospitals and enhancing the services offered by large nearby regional hospitals, according to a recent survey conducted by Corporate Research Associates Inc. (CRA).
A news release notes there are 36 hospitals and 18 other medical facilities — such as community health centres and health clinics — serving a population of over 519,000 in Newfoundland and Labrador. Many smaller hospitals in the province are having problems recruiting doctors and keeping their emergency rooms open.
The release states that while the majority opinion across the province is that Newfoundland and Labrador would be better served by keeping all hospitals open, this preference is more prevalent outside the Avalon area.
Meanwhile, preference to keep all hospitals open is more likely among women than men, residents with lower household incomes and those with less than a post-secondary education.
“Not unexpectedly, the majority of residents in Newfoundland and Labrador prefer the status quo in terms of keeping all current hospitals open across the province,” said Don Mills, chairman and CEO of Corporate Research Associates. “This underscores the challenge faced by politicians and political parties to rationalize the delivery of acute care in the province to ensure the long-term sustainability of the health care system.”
Just over six in 10 (63 per cent) residents believe the province would be better served by continuing to keep all hospitals open. Meanwhile, one-third (33 per cent) of residents indicate Newfoundland and Labrador would be better served with fewer hospitals and enhancing the services offered by large nearby regional hospitals.
Four per cent of Newfoundland and Labrador residents do not know, or do not have an opinion on the matter.
The results are based on a telephone survey of 400 adult Newfoundland and Labrador residents, conducted from Nov. 7-30, with overall results accurate to within ± 4.9 percentage points, 95 out of 100 times.