Four communities across Cape Breton are welcoming seven new nurses. As a result, about 4,000 additional people on the island will have access to primary health care.
Sydney-Whitney Pier MLA Derek Mombourquette made the announcement today, April 19, on behalf of Health and Wellness Minister Leo Glavine.
“Strengthening collaborative family practices means more Nova Scotians can get the care they need, when and where they need it,” said Mr. Mombourquette. “About 4,000 Cape Bretoners in Sydney, Port Hawkesbury, Eskasoni and Cheticamp, and surrounding communities, will gain access to a family medical practice.”
The seven new nurses will join practices in the following communities:
–Sydney, two nurse practitioners and two family practice nurses
–Port Hawkesbury, one nurse practitioner
–Eskasoni, Cape Breton Regional Municipality, one part-time nurse practitioner
–Cheticamp, Inverness Co., one part-time family practice nurse (already started).
“We are pleased to have a nurse practitioner and family practice nurse join our family practice,” said Dr. Steven MacDougall, Island Family Health Care. “These health professionals will help provide enhanced, comprehensive primary care for our patients, and allow our practice to accept new patients.”
In total there are 12 communities across the province welcoming 23 new nurses. That means up to 14,000 more Nova Scotians will have access to primary care. Government is investing $3.6 million to support these 23 new positions.
“Supporting our family physicians and primary care providers in their practice models and creating more collaborative family practice teams is a priority of Nova Scotia Health Authority,” said Tricia Cochrane, vice-president of primary health care and population health, Nova Scotia Health Authority. “Adding nurse practitioners and family practice nurses, as well as other health providers, to strengthen existing family practices is an important part of our plan to provide coordinated and comprehensive care to support the health needs of Nova Scotians.”
Nova Scotians in these communities or surrounding areas who need a primary-care provider should register with Nova Scotia Health Authority’s provincial list, 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.
Source: Release