NL Health Service’s hosted its second annual general meeting in St. John’s on September 25, 2025. Photo by Cameron Kilfoy/The TelegramArticle contentLooking back at the last year, it’s hard for Dr. Pat Parfrey to say what his proudest accomplishment is with NL Health Services (NLHS).THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY.Subscribe now to access this story and more:Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsSUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES.Subscribe or sign in to your account to continue your reading experience.Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsRegister to unlock more articles.Create an account or sign in to continue your reading experience.Access additional stories every monthShare your thoughts and join the conversation in our commenting communityGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorArticle contentThat’s because it’s not just one thing.Article contentArticle contentWhen it comes to health care, Parfrey said it’s a combination of what they are doing across specialties, the system and region. Article content“Summarizing it in a sentence is difficult, although I’ll try, which is that we are attempting to enhance care in the community through family care teams, virtual care and an integrated air, ground ambulance system,” said Parfrey at the NLHS’s second annual general meeting on Sept. 25, his first as CEO, a role he’s held since January 2025. Article contentArticle content“We’re trying to improve hospital care, in particular areas that have a high burden of illness, like cardiovascular stroke and cancer.” Article contentParfrey added that NLHS’s approach to care of the elderly and frail is another big component of their accomplishments. Article content Dr. Pat Parfrey, CEO of NL Health Service, addresses the crowd during the provincial health authority’s second annual general meeting. Photo by Cameron Kilfoy/The TelegramArticle contentWhat has NLHS accomplished in the last year? Article contentAlthough there are still a number of areas the health authority can improve on, Parfrey said, improving other deficiencies is the biggest aim. Article contentWhen it comes to some of the major highlights for NLHS over the past fiscal year, both Parfrey and Robert Andrews, chair of the board of trustees, spoke to those. They include:Article contentOpening both the new 102-bed Mental Health and Addictions Centre in April 2024 and the new 264-bed Western Memorial Regional Hospital in Corner Brook in June 2024. Ninety-three per cent of local nursing graduates joined NLHS in 2024–2025; 203 bachelor of nursing grads and 167 practical nursing grads.Welcoming 28 new nurses from Jamaica, bringing the number of internationally trained nurses in the province to 224. The number of people waiting to be connected with Family Care Teams dropped from 96,000 to 42,000; 85,000 are already connected. Launched lung screening cancer pilot, expanded breast cancer screening for women in their 40s and improvements to the cardiac surgery program; wait list cut from 200 to 135. All 42 medical imaging sites underwent accreditation; all 16 mammography machines are now fully accredited.Opened acute care for the elderly (ACE) units in Corner Brook and St. Clare’s; Corner Brook unit sends 78 per cent of frail seniors home after treatment.Integrated air and ground ambulance system with physician oversight to improve rural/remote emergency response.CoreCare system, also known as EPIC, launching on April 25, 2026. Article contentArticle content“After two years of NLHS, we probably should smell the roses and think that we’ve done good, because I definitely believe it,” said Parfrey. Article contentArticle contentHow is NLHS doing financially?Article contentSharon Forsey, chairperson of the audit and finance committee, said NLHS’s cash-based expenses for the 2024-2025 year were $3.8 billion.Article contentOf that $3.8 billion, 74 per cent was spent on direct patient care, with 14 per cent being spent on indirect patient care functions.Article contentForsey said that all other expenditures included support, admin, research and education. Article contentAll financial statements were audited by NL’s Auditor General, she added. Article content“During the fiscal year 2024-25, NL Health Services incurred an operating cash surplus of $13 million,” added Forsey.
Parfrey says NL Health Services has ‘done good’ over last year at AGM
