The Sunrise Health Region (SHR) has announced a year-end surplus and approval of the 2011-12 budget.
"We thank our staff for their perseverance through what was a difficult budget implementation last year and for their ongoing dedication to excellence in health care," says Suann Laurent, Interim CEO for the SHR. "With the financial situation turned around from deficit to surplus, the outlook for our region is bright and on solid financial footing."
A change in provincial accounting practice occurred this year says Laurent, "whereby funds held for mortgages and loan repayment in the Financial Statements must appear in the operational surplus. Sunrise Health Region contained costs and performed well with a year-end surplus of $1,749,921 of which; $825,338 is held for mortgages, $810,373 Energy & Facility Renewal Project energy savings is held for loan repayment, and $114,210 is general operational surplus."
Initiatives undertaken to balance last year's budget will continue to help contain costs into the future, she adds.
That said, while the region met or exceeded many targets set in the previous year, some areas continue to be un met.
"In 2011-12 the health region will deploy specific strategies to bring the region closer to the provincial average for wage driven premiums, sick leave and injuries," says Laurent.
On June 1, 2011, Sunrise Regional Health Authority approved a 2011-12 budget of $203,366,452 with no program cuts and a surplus of just over $1.8 million for mortgage and loan repayment. Seventy-eight percent of the budget is dedicated to compensation for the 2,847 people employed by the health region.
Laurent assures, the Sunrise Health Region budget meets all expectations for a balanced budget, service enhancement, and accountability set out in the Strategic Plan of the health region and aligns with the Ministry of Health's Strategic and Operational Directions.
"I want to thank the Saskatchewan government for funding the operational needs of health care which for our region is an increase in base funding of 8.8 percent," says Laurent, "Capital funding of $2.4 million will further maintain and improve our buildings and equipment this year allowing health care workers to do what they do best, provide excellent care."
For 2011-12 new financial investments of just under one percent, $1.7 million will align with the region's strategic priorities to address emerging pressures and service requirements. Investments were added to enhance relief and standby coverage and to increase security, communications, education and operational supports needed as programs expand and regional capacity grows.
The largest investment at just over one million dollars will further reduce surgery wait lists, add minor orthopedic and vascular surgeries, and increase home care and rehabilitation support for patients after surgery, concludes Laurent.
