The Northern Heath Authority says Emergency room visits to it hospitals will increase by about 3,289 in 2007-08

In 2006-07, 267,620 persons came to the facilities, up from 242,605 in the 2003-04 fiscal years.

Ambulatory care, those visits that include minor surgery, IV therapy, and other care services that usually don’t require hospital admission will increase to 145,720 up from the 137,250 visits that took place in 2006-07.

Public health will spend about $23.1 million dollars of the budget. Northern Health’s Tobacco reduction program will see $180,000 more in funding in the coming fiscal year along with a service plan that includes plans to increase immunization, provide better care in dealing with blood borne pathogens and increase awareness of road health safety initiatives.