2012-11-13 21:20:01 -

COMOX, BRITISH COLUMBIA -- (Marketwire) -- 11/13/12 -- The Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of National Defence, today congratulated 21 Health Services Centre at 19 Wing Comox on the grand opening of their new health care facility. The 4066 m2 health care facility created nearly 250 quality jobs during its construction and will provide comprehensive medical, mental health and dental services for the approximately 1000 military members based at the wing.



"The new health care centre at 19 Wing Comox will provide the medical and dental communities with a custom-designed, patient-oriented, fully-functional facility where Canadian Forces members will continue to receive high-quality health care delivered in an efficient and professional manner," said Minister MacKay.


The new facility is fully compliant with the current clinical model and caters to a full-service, primary care capability. The health clinic is a national model for the provision of standardized health care across the Canadian Forces (CF). It also provides for a variety of diagnostic and therapeutic services in support of primary care. First line mental health responders, by way of a psychosocial department as well as a general mental health capability, are also intrinsic to the new facility. An operations and training element is also available, as is a preventive medicine department.


"The opening of this facility is an example of how our government continues to invest in our men and women in uniform," said Minister MacKay. "This important infrastructure investment embodies our government's commitment to the health and well-being of our Canadian Forces, and to the creation of economic opportunities for Canadians across the country."


The dental detachment fully complies with the CF Dental Services philosophy of design and provides for full general dentistry and oral hygiene functionality. Additionally, the dental detachment is constructed in such a manner that specialist services can be delivered in-house, thus making service delivery more efficient for the client population. The new health clinic and dental facility represent an investment of approximately $17 million and will include facilities needed to gain functional spaces needed to provide CF members with primary care, mental health services and dental care.



Contacts:

Information: 1-866-377-0811/613-996-2353

www.forces.gc.ca