**** CNS Media Release
More Nursing Home Beds Added in HRM
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Government is investing $1.3 million to ensure more Nova Scotians have access to nursing home beds.
Thirty residential-care beds at Melville Gardens, a long-term care home in Halifax Regional Municipality will be converted into nursing home beds.
“Nova Scotians deserve timely access to long-term care, and we know there are areas where demand is high,” said Health and Wellness Minister Randy Delorey. “This is a resourceful approach to better serve the needs of more Nova Scotians.”
Residential care beds are intended for those who need some support but can perform most daily activities on their own. Demand for these beds has been going down in light of investments in home care and people staying in their homes longer. As a result, government is looking at how to make the best use of these resources.
The rooms are expected to be ready for new residents early in the new year.
Quotes:
“We are pleased for the opportunity to provide more Nova Scotians with nursing home beds at Melville Gardens. This will give many families the comfort of knowing their loved one can get access to the care they need.”
– James Balcom, chief operating officer, GEM Health Care Group Limited, operator of Melville Gardens
Quick Facts:
— Health and Wellness will increase the budget of GEM Health Care Group by $1.3 million to support staffing and operational needs
— upgrades to the rooms will take about 4-6 weeks and will include things like new tubs for assisted bathing, and ceiling and chairlifts
— government has already announced 132 new nursing homes beds are being added across Nova Scotia – Meteghan (10), New Waterford (36), North Sydney (38) and Eskasoni (48)
— there are 90 nursing homes in Nova Scotia
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**** NSHA Media Release
Tamoxifen now available to community pharmacies across Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia Health Authority’s (NSHA) Cancer Care team is pleased to report that patients who need the breast cancer drug, Tamoxifen, are able to get it at their community pharmacy.
“We’ve received confirmation that additional supply of tamoxifen is now available to all community pharmacies in Nova Scotia,” said Dr. Drew Bethune, Senior Medical Director, NSHA Cancer Care Program. “This is great news for patients and providers.”
“We are asking pharmacies to continue to limit dispensing quantities to a one-month supply until the shortage is completely resolved. We are confident Nova Scotia will have enough drug to meet the needs of all patients.”
Health Canada recently announced that two Canadian manufacturers who make tamoxifen are predicting resolution of supply issues by the end of December instead of the end of January as earlier reported.
Since Tamoxifen supply issues are close to being resolved NSHA is winding down operation of its tamoxifen information line. The line will be monitored over the next couple of weeks, but the message will indicate that patients should be able to access the drug at their local pharmacy.
NSHA thanks its cancer care teams, community pharmacies, family physicians and all primary care providers, as well as its national partners including Health Canada and the Canadian Association of Provincial Cancer Agencies (CAPCA), all of whom worked to support patients by implementing strategies to conserve and share the drug and resolve the issue as soon as possible.
We also thank patients and families for their patience and understanding as we worked together to ensure that this national shortage of tamoxifen was managed responsibly and, most importantly, effectively for our patients, who remain our top priority.
