RUSSELL CALLS FOR AIR AMBULANCE TO BE STATIONED IN LABRADOR

OTTAWA, March 23, 2010 — Labrador M.P. Todd Russell today echoed the concerns raised by many Labrador residents, and called for a dedicated air ambulance to be stationed in Labrador, to respond to medical emergencies in the region.

“There have been too many instances where emergency medical transport may have contributed to delayed treatment or even deaths,” Russell said. “We will never know for sure if lives could have been saved had an aircraft been in place. However, the people who I represent should no longer have to take those chances. Enough is enough.”

Russell urged the provincial government and Labrador-Grenfell Health Board, who have responsibility over the matter, to speed up the process of providing this vital service.

“I am aware that the province is reviewing the air ambulance configuration, but it is time to bring the study to a conclusion, and turn it into action,” Russell said. “And let’s be clear, we are talking about adding to the air ambulance service, not detracting from any existing service.”

“Labrador is nearly three times the size of Newfoundland, with communities separated by vast distances from one another, and from major medical facilities that can handle serious emergencies. Labrador West and the north coast are the regions of the province farthest from the Health Sciences Centre, while in north and south coastal Labrador there are nine fly-in communities. The need is obvious: we don’t need a study to tell us what we already know.”

“The people of Labrador are sick and tired of putting up with sub-standard medical services simply because of where we live.”

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Todd Russell, MP

Labrador

(613) 996-4630