NDP bill calls for more Collaborative Emergency Centres

HALIFAX – The NDP Caucus will introduce legislation today that will require the Nova Scotia Health Authority to open more Collaborative Emergency Centres (CECs) at hospitals that are experiencing emergency room closures. CECs are proven to improve access to primary care and reduce emergency room closures.

“Emergency room closures have increased from about 15,000 hours to 25,000 hours since this Liberal government was elected,” said NDP Leader Gary Burrill. “The Liberals promised to open Collaborative Emergency Centres in Lunenburg, Glace Bay and North Sydney to reduce the ER closures, yet in five years not a single CEC has been opened by this government.”

The Liberals have also shut down the New Waterford CEC, in the form of the Mobile Health Team.

“Residents of New Waterford are very concerned about the future of our CEC,” said Tammy Martin, MLA for Cape Breton Centre and NDP Health spokesperson. “The Liberals are allowing this important service to shut down, without any plans for meeting our people’s health care needs.”

The NDP legislation would require new CECs to be open by April 1, 2020 at the latest.

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