The province is improving the care and safety for patients with investments in new hospital equipment at Capital Health.

Health and Wellness Minister David Wilson announced $3.5 million in funding on July 13 for equipment that will improve quality, safety and efficiency of laboratory services and enhance infection prevention and control.

"Providing better health care for Nova Scotians and their families is a priority," said Mr. Wilson. "Investments in equipment and technology support health care professionals to provide safe, quality health care services."

Investments at Capital Health include more than $3.3 million for an automated track laboratory system, which will make testing more efficient and improve the quality of laboratory services.

"This investment will allow more timely processing of 30,000 specimens each week in the laboratory at the Victoria General site of the QEII Health Sciences Centre," said Capital Health CEO Chris Power. "Automation of repetitive and labour-intensive processes reduces the risk of errors in specimen handling and enhances quality. By improving efficiencies, the lab will also be positioned to adapt to increasing demands from across the provincial health system."

Capital Health will also receive funding toward a $450,000 barcoding project that will enhance patient safety and quality, and reduce processing time by better identifying laboratory specimens. Funding will also support buying a $170,000 cart washer to enhance infection prevention and control efforts. Under the cost share formula for capital equipment, the Department of Health and Wellness will pay 75 per cent of the costs and Capital Health will pay 25 per cent.

The province's investment is part of $15 million announced in December from its Jobs and Building 2012/13 Capital Plan. The money is earmarked for district health authorities and the IWK Health Centre to purchase or replace necessary equipment.

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