ER department to be doubled in size
Plans are in progress for changes at Yarmouth Regional Hospital
An effort is underway to double the size of the emergency department at the Yarmouth Regional Hospital.
Premier Stephen McNeil shared this news on Feb. 14 when he took questions on a variety of topics at a Yarmouth and Area Chamber of Commerce event.
“We’re looking at doubling the size of the emergency department at the regional facility here in Yarmouth,” he said, when asked about health-care issues, which included the issue of physician recruitment.
He said work has been ongoing to determine where to relocate ambulatory care so the size of the emergency department can be expanded.
“It’s not only a beautiful community that will attract and retain people, they want to be able to work in the infrastructure that reflects today’s realities and the equipment that they need today to be able to deliver services,” the premier said.
He noted there is no set timeframe for the work and he did not speak about costs.
“We’ve been down looking at the physical footprint,” he said. “We know the emergency room needs to be expanded and we’re committed to doing that.”
While in Yarmouth the premier also toured a house on Vancouver Street that will be used as a tool to recruit and retain physicians. The house was purchased and donated by the Coastal Financial Credit Union. The Yarmouth and Area Chamber of Commerce has been involved in the recruitment of physicians and last year created a community navigator position. The premier congratulated the credit union for stepping up and thanked the chamber for recognizing the business community’s role is more than just about economic development; it is also about community development.
“Kudos to you for thinking big,” he said, saying he was impressed that the community isn’t just thinking about today, but also about the long term.
“Putting rooms in for medical students, it’s an important part,” he said, noting he spoke with two physicians in Yarmouth who said you need to start recruiting people prior to them even going to medical school.
“You certainly need to start engaging them when they’re medical students,” he acknowledged. “The fact that you provided free board for them is a positive thing and a home for residents when they come here to work is a positive thing.”
When the purchase of the house was announced last fall, it was noted that housing is a barrier to recruitment because many potential doctors find themselves in a position where they still have to pay rent or mortgages for homes in former locations until those properties are sold or rerented. Offering a free place to live while working in Yarmouth is seen as a big draw. It was stated then that the house would have three units for resident doctors to live in and there would be one unit with three bedrooms and a common living area for medical students that are here temporarily. There has been much in-kind work donated by local individuals and businesses to renovate and upgrade the house
Before the premier spoke inside the Rodd Grand Hotel, outside some local residents protested about the lack of family physicians.
“We want to let the premier know that people are desperate for health care in this province,” said Katherine Davies, one of those who braved the bitterly cold weather to focus attention on the issue. “Yarmouth has been hit very bad with the loss of doctors here. People are quite devastated. We want (the premier)
Some people protested about the lack of family physicians in Yarmouth on Friday. Feb. 14 as inside Premier Stephen McNeil was taking part in a Yarmouth and Area Chamber of Commerce event. to explain himself. He promised every Nova Scotian a doctor, that was his election promise, and he’s broken that promise.”
Inside the premier told those present, “it’s not just physicians who are going to deliver your health care in the future.”
“They’re an important part of that (but) nurse practitioners, family practice nurses, dieticians, are all part of how we develop healthcare going forward,” he said. “And for some of our communities a social worker will be part of that – a part of how we work with families holistically to work towards maintaining good health or coming back to health . . . So it will take a group of health care providers – particularly when it comes to primary care.
“Let’s all open up our minds to the fact that this is not our grandparents’ health care delivery anymore, it is ours,” he added. “Let’s shape it and let’s use all of our health care providers to use their maximum education potential to ensure that we stay healthy or we return to health.”