The provincial government has announced health care spending to establish ten new family care teams in the province.

Premier Andrew Furey says $21.2 million has been set aside in the upcoming provincial budget to establish rebranded Family Care Teams serving up to 80,000 patients.

He says a number of regions have been identified through a needs assessment and the availability of resources. The teams will be established over the next year.

They include Bonavista, Brookfield-Centreville, Clarenville, Conception Bay North, Gander, Grand Falls-Windsor, Humber Valley-White Bay, Labrador West, Port aux Basques and St. John’s.

Previously known as collaborative care clinics, the province is rebranding the new clinics as Family Care Teams. Furey says the notion of a family physician putting out their shingle and serving patients from cradle to grave is outdated and romantic.

He says working in teams is better for “everybody,” and meets the needs of a modern system.