811 tele-health contract renewed for P.E.I.

Prince Edward Island has renewed acontract for 811 services with Nova Scotia, a deal that will last until March 2019 and cost P.E.I. $2.4 million.

Anaverage of about 50 Islanders a day have used the tele-health service since it launched on P.E.I. in September 2013, according to the Department of Health and Wellness.

Health questions are answered by registered nurses in Nova Scotia.

Statistics show that of those Islanders callingwho said they wanted to go to a hospitalemergency room, 5per cent were dissuaded from doing so.

More than half of all callers to 811 were told to go to their familydoctor, 20 per cent were given advice on how to deal with their ailment at home, and 20 per cent were advised to head to the emergency room.

The 811 service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week in 120 languages.