CORNER BROOK About 600 clients of the VON foot-care program in Corner Brook will have to find somewhere else to get that service.
The VON confirmed in a statement on Thursday that it was cutting the program in the city.
“The program is being discontinued because it runs at a deficit,” said the emailed statement.
“For some time, increases to fees and to subsidies have not covered the costs to run the program.”
The VON said foot-care clients received notification of the discontinuation of the program this week.
The statement said the VON understands the importance of the program and prior to making the decision to cut it conducted an assessment to determine the availability of alternate services. All affected clients will be provided with information about optional service providers.
The organization is also discontinuing two non-critical visiting services for the same financial reason. The VON will no longer offer blood collection in the home or Vitamin B-12 injections.
Again, VON will provide information on other providers to the seven affected clients.
One full-time nurse and one part-time nurse have received lay-off notices as a result of the cuts.
Other VON programs available in the Corner Brook community including immunization clinics, flu clinics, pre-travel clinics, corporate wellness, the adult day program and Meals on Wheels will not be affected.
The statement said the VON, like every other business — for-profit or not-for-profit — must be able to cover its costs or it simply would not be able to exist.
