Twelve communities across Nova Scotia are welcoming 23 new nurses. As a result, up to 14,000 more Nova Scotians are gaining access to primary care.
“I’m happy to see these health professionals joining doctors and other health-care providers in so many different parts of the province,” said Premier Stephen McNeil. “This will ensure thousands more Nova Scotians have access to primary care, in areas where the need is the greatest.”
Thirteen nurse practitioners and 10 family practice nurses are joining existing collaborative care teams across the province.
The full-time and part-time positions are joining practices in the following communities:
–Digby, one nurse practitioner (already started) and one family practice nurse (both announced last month)
–Shelburne, one nurse practitioner (already started) and one family practice nurse
–Windsor, one nurse practitioner
–Spryfield, one nurse practitioner and one part-time family practice nurse
–Dartmouth, two nurse practitioners and two family practice nurses
–Musquodoboit Harbour, one nurse practitioner
–Truro, one nurse practitioner and two family practice nurses
–Westville, Pictou Co., one nurse practitioner (already started)
–Port Hawkesbury, one nurse practitioner
–Cheticamp, Inverness Co., one part-time family practice nurse (already started)
–Eskasoni, Cape Breton Regional Municipality, one part-time nurse practitioner
–Sydney, two nurse practitioners and two family practice nurses.
Premier McNeil made the announcement today, April 19, in Spryfield where a nurse practitioner and a family practice nurse will begin seeing patients next month.
“Having a nurse practitioner and family practice nurse join our family practice is of real benefit for our existing patients, as well as the new patients that we will be able to accept in the coming months,” said Dr. Mike Gniewek of the Spryfield Ravines Medical Clinic. “These health professionals will work collaboratively with our team to provide comprehensive and timely access to primary care for our patients in this community.”
Government is investing $3.6 million to support these new positions.
“Primary health care is the foundation of our health system. We are strengthening primary health care by supporting our family physicians and teams that are in place and by expanding and creating new collaborative family practice teams across the province,” said Janet Knox, president and CEO, Nova Scotia Health Authority. “We are pleased to welcome these new nurse practitioners and family practice nurses, who will work as part of a team to enhance access and provide more coordinated and comprehensive care for patients.”
Nova Scotians in these communities or surrounding areas who need a primary care provider should register with Nova Scotia Health Authority’s provincial list, by visiting needafamilypractice.nshealth.ca or by calling 811, Monday through Friday between 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. The practices will be calling those on the list as they start taking on new patients.
All Nova Scotians in need of a family practice are encouraged to have their names added to the provincial list.
Source: Release