NSNDP

May 17th, 2017

NDP to invest in infrastructure that puts patients first

Bayers Lake development would be suspended under NDP gov't

LOWER SACKVILLE – Today, the Leader of the NDP Gary Burrill announced that an NDP government will not build an outpatient centre in Bayers Lake and would instead work with patients, health care providers and the city to find a location that puts the needs of patients first.

“Stephen McNeil is so out of touch with the needs of patients that he actually thought a health clinic in Bayers Lake was a good idea,” said Burrill. “There is no public transportation going out to that site, which puts an unfair barrier on our seniors and others who rely on public buses. We will make sure that our health system is not only patient-centred, but also community-based.”

An NDP government will:

  • Immediately suspend any action to develop the new Metro community outpatient centre at the Whopper Drop bike trail in Bayers Lake.
  • Within 30 days of taking office, undertake a public site selection for the new community outpatient clinic site(s), including the following selection criteria:
    • Transportation time/accessibility for most Halifax-Dartmouth residents;
    • Integration with existing community facilities;
    • Near a 100 series highway and major transit routes; and
    • Use of existing serviced public land.
  • Include enhancement of services here at Cobequid as an option in the Metro community outpatient plan.

“Stephen McNeil has spent nearly four years focused on building a centralized health bureaucracy and in the meantime front line care has greatly suffered,” said NDP candidate for Sackville-Cobequid Dave Wilson. “Stephen McNeil doesn’t believe there is a crisis in health care, which means the McNeil Liberals can’t fix what they don’t think is broken. The NDP has a proven record on working with doctors, nurses and patients to address their needs and put patient care first.”

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