Leanne Demeulenaere, a RN in Unit 3 at the QEH, was recently the recipient of the 2013 Marjorie E. Vessey Award. The annual awardis presented to an individual nurse at the QEH who has contributed significantly to nursing care at the hospital. The award was created by and in honour of Marjorie Vessey, a long-time nurse at the QEH and leader in the nursing community.

A new Catastrophic Drug Program will be introduced this fall to assist Islanders whose prescription drug costs are affecting their household’s ability to maintain life essentials.

Government is taking legislative action to reduce the growing abuse of prescription narcotics and controlled substances in Island communities. The Narcotics Safety Act will allow for the the monitoring and analysis of the dispensing and prescription of narcotics through the Drug Information System (DIS).

Eligible Islanders can now receive a Medication Review through local pharmacists at no cost to patients under the Provincial Pharmacare Program.

An addition of 55 new long term care beds will help improve access to long term care in Island communities.