Blaine Higgs speaks with reporters on Aug. 17, 2020, after meeting with the lieutenant-governor and asking her to dissolve the legislature. (Photo: CPAC screengrab)
The Progressive Conservative leader focused on health care during a campaign stop at a Woodstock retirement home Thursday.
Blaine Higgs told reporters a PC government would maintain their COVID-19 provincial rapid outbreak management teams.
Higgs said the teams of health-care professionals can respond quickly to nursing homes and special care homes if needed.
“If you’ll think about the outbreak in the Campbellton area, how quickly that our teams responded, surrounded that outbreak and contained it until it was resolved,” said Higgs.
The Progressive Conservative government invested $3 million this year to create four of the teams, also known as PROMT.
In the event of a COVID-19 outbreak in a vulnerable population, the teams provide support to stabilize an outbreak situation, particularly in the first 24 to 48 hours.
Higgs also announced the PCs would hire 20 more Extra-Mural Program liaison nurses to help transfer seniors out of hospitals and back to their homes or care facilities.
“Their role is to coordinate with Extra-Mural so that when a patient is discharged, they can do a full assessment of what medical equipment may be needed in the home, along with any other support they may need while they recover,” he said.
A PC government would also expand virtual health-care appointments for specialist appointments and assessments to help connect seniors and rural residents with resources and specialists in urban centres, said Higgs.
Higgs also promised to maintain their spring budget commitment to increase health-care spending by 3.9 per cent to $2.9 billion.
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