Faster Access to Rehabilitation for Children and Youth
Children and youth who have chronic disabilities will receive faster access to rehabilitation services thanks to new funding for the IWK Health Centre.
A $300,000 provincial investment will allow the hospital to hire more therapists to help children with cognitive, developmental and physical disabilities. The funding will also be used to plan a more comprehensive, broad-based range of services to meet growing needs in this area.
"This is an example of our commitment to better health care, as we've outlined in our health strategy, Your Health Matters," said Premier John Hamm. "We are taking another step in helping our most vulnerable children. This investment will make a difference where a difference is needed most."
The rehabilitation services at the IWK Health Centre help children and youth across the province who have disabilities such as cerebral palsy, spina bifida, arthritis, developmental disabilities and cancer meet the challenges of everyday life.
Rehabilitation services at the IWK Health Centre are offered by a team of professionals -- physiotherapists, occupational therapists, psychologists, speech-language pathologists, nurses, and doctors -- working to address the individual needs of children and youth. These professionals work together to create a specialized set of services for each child, addressing such needs as language and speech therapy, mobility, pain management, sleeping disorders, emotional development and providing many other supports needed by children with disabilities.
"The IWK is pleased that Premier Hamm and Health Minister Angus MacIsaac joined us here today to provide funding to help us meet the growing need for co-ordinated rehabilitative services for the thousands of Nova Scotian children with chronic disabling conditions," said Dr. Alex Gillis, president and CEO, IWK Health Centre. "We hope to broaden the range of our rehabilitative services, and build the framework for a comprehensive provincial effort to address the ongoing needs of these children."
"Rehabilitation can make a significant impact in a child's life. It can make the difference of being able to develop and enjoy life to his or her fullest potential," said Mr. MacIsaac. "Providing the right blend of rehabilitation services for children and youth is one of our challenges. The funding announced today shows that we are working to make a difference. This is the first step in reducing wait times for these needed services."
Within Nova Scotia, the IWK Health Centre and the district health authorities are responsible for delivering health care. The IWK Health Centre will continue to work with the district health authorities for continued development of rehabilitation services for children and youth.
The IWK Health Centre is an academic provincial health centre that is committed to helping women, babies, children, and youth in a family-centred way in Nova Scotia and throughout the Maritimes. Across Nova Scotia and beyond, the IWK Health Centre is known for its teams of caring professionals who work with caregivers in communities so that children and youth get the care they need.