‘There really is only one site’
New health centre expected to be built on Mount Carmel school property
It looks like the new community health centre will be built on the site of the former Mount Carmel Elementary School.
New Waterford Community Health Board vice chair Dr. Peter Littlejohn said it is the board’s understanding that the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal has made the decision.
“We believe (the government department) short-circuited the site selection process because there really is only one site,” he said.
“We have every indication this will be going forward but we are waiting for a firm announcement.
“Our information is strong that we are on track for the start in the spring as (Premier Stephen McNeil) announced back in April. Things seem to be going as planned.”
Littlejohn said there was never any discussion about renovating the building.
“The school will have to be demolished, it’s a horrendous fire risk and safety issue.”
McNeil announced on April 5 that a community health centre would be built in New Waterford to house health-care providers, an idea Littlejohn first proposed two decades ago.
McNeil didn’t provide the potential costs for the facility at the April announcement.
It is expected the health centre will be operated by a not-forprofit organization and include medical services to address primary health care as well as mental health and addictions.
This health centre has been a long 20-year wait for Littlejohn.
“I want to see the concrete being poured and structure going up,” he said. “But there is every indication this is going forward and I think it’s the best thing we can do for the town.”
Littlejohn said he wants to assure the public that the proposed health care centre will in no way impact services at the New Waterford Consolidated Hospital.
“If we provide better primary care then people would have better control of their diabetes and heart disease, lung disease and so on,” he said. “We’ll be making the population healthier. There is nothing in place to cut back on the services the hospital is providing.”
Littlejohn said the Nova Scotia Health Authority has spent a lot of money upgrading the New Waterford hospital.
“The services we have at the hospital, we can’t do without them. We don’t have the room to cut back patient beds and that kind of thing and the OR is providing very valuable services. “
The community health board also believes the new health centre will help attract new doctors to the area.
Brian Taylor, spokesperson for the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal, said planning for the community health centre in New Waterford is ongoing.
“This phase is preliminary in nature, no decisions have been made around potential sites at this time.”