CHAPTER 8
HEALTH CARE
LOCAL HEALTHCARE
PROVINCIAL MEDICAL CARE PLAN (MCP)
INTERIM FEDERAL HEALTH PROGRAM
FINDING A DOCTOR
PRESCRIPTION DRUGS
MEDICAL EMERGENCIES
44
Local Healthcare
We have a modern hospital in central Labrador that offers
many health services. The Labrador Health Centre, which
opened in September 2000, is a fully-accredited facility
located in the town of Happy Valley-Goose Bay. Services
include: Acute care, diagnostic and clinical support;
community health and wellness; health protection; long-term
care; mental health and addictions; therapeutic intervention,
family rehabilitation and other rehabilitation services.
Labrador-Grenfell Health Regional Authority is an integrated
health and community services board which has its
headquarters in Happy Valley-Goose Bay. Labrador-Grenfell
Health received accreditation status from Accreditation Canada in 2010. The vision of Labrador-Grenfell
Health is of healthy people living in healthy communities. Please visit http://www.lghealth.ca for more
information.
The hospital in Happy Valley-Goose Bay is a smoke-free and scent-free facility which includes 25 beds for
inpatients, an Emergency department that is open 24 hours, operating rooms, and a 50-bed long term care
facility. 13 long term care beds are in a protective care unit. Inpatient services include:
•
Surgery, anesthesiology and dental surgery offered through day surgery and inpatient admissions
•
A variety of family physicians
•
Full time specialists including a general surgeon, an anesthetist and an obstetrician/ gynecologist
•
Maternity care provided by a team which includes an obstetrician, physician residents, midwives, and
registered nurses
•
A number of visiting specialists such as, dermatologists and orthopedic surgeons, also provide services
at the Labrador Health Centre on a regular basis.
The hospital provides clinical support services including a pharmacy in the building, a registered dietician, and
chemotherapy treatment centre and staff. Diagnostic services include laboratory/X-Ray, CT scanner,
radiology, mammography, and ultrasonography. Rehabilitation services that are offered include
physiotherapy, occupational therapy, and speech language pathology. Outpatient services include community
health/home care, mental health and addictions services, well women clinics and a satellite dialysis unit.
Road ambulance and air ambulance services are provided in collaboration with the government of
Newfoundland and Labrador.
Health protection services provided at the hospital include: Environmental health, communicable disease
control and health emergency management.
Provincial Medical Care Plan (MCP)
Each province in Canada is responsible for covering health care costs. The
Newfoundland and Labrador Medical Care Plan (MCP) is a medical
insurance plan which covers the cost of doctor visits for all residents of the
province. You must always bring your MCP Card with you when visiting the
hospital or doctor.
You may be eligible for MCP coverage if you are a Canadian citizen, landed
immigrant, foreign worker, or international student.
MCP does not pay for
ambulance service.
If you use an
ambulance, you will be
billed for the service.
45
In general, MCP covers the following types of medical services:
Visits to a doctor’s office or hospital
Operations and related treatment, including anesthesia
Treatments before and after operations
Maternity care
X-ray services
Some dental operations that have to be done in a hospital by a dentist or dental surgeon
Dental coverage for children 12 and under
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
All residents of the province of Newfoundland and Labrador must have an MCP card. Whether you do it on
your own, or with help from someone, you must complete an application form. This can be obtained from the
MCP website at: www.health.gov.nl.ca/health/mcp/index.html.
The following documentations must be attached with the application form. DO NOT SEND ORIGINALS
OF THESE DOCUMENTS; USE PHOTOCOPIES.
Landed Immigrants must present a record of landing documents for Citizenship and Immigration Canada.
Foreign Workers must present an employment authorization (work visa). The employment authorization
must be:
•
Issued before coming to Canada
•
For a named Newfoundland & Labrador employer
•
For a specific job within the province
•
Valid for at least 12 months, except for foreign health care workers
All foreign applications should be prepared to present a valid foreign passport for identification purposes.
MCP Coverage for International Students
Health care coverage is available to international students undertaking post-secondary studies in the province.
The program applies to any foreign individual student issued an official study permit by Citizenship and
Immigration Canada (CIC) before entering the country. The student must be attending an educational
institution for a period of at least 12 months. Dependents of students will also be covered.
Interim Federal Health Program
The Interim Federal Health Program (IFH) provides temporary
medical coverage for certain immigrants such as refugees, who may
need assistance prior to their qualification for provincial health care
coverage. The IFH program provides assistance for the following:
•
•
•
•
Essential and emergency health services for the treatment and
prevention of serious medical conditions and the treatment of
emergency dental conditions
Contraception, prenatal and obstetrical care
Essential prescription medications
Costs related to the Immigration Medical Examination by a
designated medical practitioner
Finding a Family Doctor
To find out about getting a family doctor you must contact the
Labrador Health Centre. It is again important to take your MCP card.
Without it, you must pay for the services.
46
Labrador Health Centre
Hamilton River Road
P.O. Box 7000 Stn. C
Happy Valley - Goose Bay, NL
A0P 1C0
Phone: 897-2267
Fax: 896-4032
Admitting
Phone: 897-2384
Prescription Drugs
You must have a doctor’s prescription (which means written permission from a doctor) to buy prescription
drugs (medicine) at a pharmacy. These pharmacies, also called drug stores, usually charge the same amounts
for prescription drugs. If you need a prescription filled and you have to pay the full amount for it, then ask the
pharmacist to give the “generic” drug. This means that it isn’t a popular brand name drug but it’s the same
type of drug with the same dosage. Generic drugs are less expensive than brand names. Discuss this with the
pharmacist. If you are covered by the IFH program, some prescription medications may be covered.
Hamilton Drugs
366 Hamilton River Road
Happy Valley - Goose Bay
Phone: 896-8418
Warr’s Pharmacy Ltd.
93 Hamilton River Road
Happy Valley - Goose Bay
Phone: 896-2963
Medical Emergencies
If you have a medical emergency, you should go to the Emergency Department at the Labrador Health Centre.
It is open 24 hours every day. If you need an interpreter, it may be a good idea to bring along a friend or
family member who can speak English.
Emergency Room
Phone: 896-2399
Ambulance
Phone: 896-2100
Health Help Line
If you need advice on a medical issue/concern, call the Newfoundland and Labrador Health Line:
1-888-709-2929. A Registered Nurse will help assess the situation and help decide what you should do next.
The nurses speak English and French. In cases where you do not speak these languages very well, ask an
interpreter to help.
Public Health Services
Public Health, including programs related to the health of mothers and children, is generally administered
through the Regional Health Authorities (RHAs). This means that there will be some different types of
services. All RHAs provide the following:
•
Education and support for pregnancy, birth and early parenting
•
Healthy Beginnings Program (support for newborns, children & their families)
•
Breastfeeding support
47
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Child health clinics
School health
Child and adult immunization
Child and youth development
Sexual/reproductive health
HIV counseling and testing
Healthy aging
Child, youth and family services
Child care and intervention services
The range of professionals who carry out these many tasks is broad. They include nurses, social workers,
psychologists, dieticians and many others with varied backgrounds.
Other Community Services
In central Labrador we have many other professional services and support groups to help you cope with your
health care issues. Community groups like the Canadian Cancer Society, Crohn’s and Colitis, Hard of
Hearing, and Prostate Cancer provide support to individuals and families and often hold community events to
raise awareness.
In Happy Valley - Goose Bay, we have a full time Optometrist who operates her own private optometry clinic,
along with several dental clinics, a chiropractic clinic, massage therapy service, a physiotherapy clinic, Reiki
and acupuncture services, and a visiting orthodontist.