Inverness County residents continue to rally for CT scan
If we can’t make decisions like this for rural Nova Scotians, if we can’t be the ones to identify at the community level priorities that the province respects, then I don’t understand where the democracy really is — that’s all we’re saying. Jim Jim Mustard, Mustard, Inverness Inverness County County councillor councillor
INVERNESS — The fight for a CT scan at the Inverness Consolidated Memorial Hospital won’t be going away any time soon, say those involved in the effort.
Organizers behind a rally held Saturday afternoon estimate more than 300 people marched and heard speeches from municipal leaders and those running in the upcoming provincial election.
“It was a good turnout,” said Inverness County Coun. Jim Mustard. “You always want more — five to 10,000 — but it was a beautiful Saturday and people are probably catching up on their gardening.”
It was the fourth rally demanding the province install a CT scan at the Inverness Hospital but Mustard wonders if any- one in power is even listening.
“If we can’t make decisions like this for rural Nova Scotians, if we can't be the ones to identify at the community level priorities that the province respects, then I don't understand where the democracy really is — that’s all we’re saying,” said Mustard. “It makes economic sense, it makes social sense, it makes cultural sense and you’re saying we don't deserve it? We’ve got Cabot Links here, we’ve got people flying in from all around the world and doesn’t it make sense?”
Rally organizer John MacDonald said he doesn't know why the government has refused to budge on their stance that Inverness does not need a CT scan. He said travelling to Sydney can be too difficult for some people and too dangerous for others. “You get an old lady, 96 years old travelling,” he said. “Pleasant Bay is three hours away and in a storm or an emergency, it doesn’t make any sense. If somebody had an accident on the golf course down there and there’s no CT scan here and that person dies — I don't understand the NDP.
“It doesn't make any sense at all.”
People of all ages are getting involved in the movement to get the hospital a CT scan. Erica Wright, 13, has gotten more than 1,200 names signed to a petition calling on the province to bring a CT scan to Inverness.
“We have been to Port Hood, Judique, Mabou, Inverness, and we helped to get signatures from Cheticamp,” said Wright in a press release.
Meanwhile, MacDonald and Mustard are anxiously awaiting results from the Oct. 8 provincial election to see if that helps their efforts any. Liberal Leader Stephen McNeil has stated he would OK a CT scan for the Inverness hospital. Area MLA and PC candidate Allan MacMaster has said a PC government would put standards in place to ensure hospitals like Inverness have a CT scan because of their distance from regional hospitals.