Patients struggle with patchwork health care

HALIFAX – NSNDP Leader Claudia Chender is renewing her call for serious, dedicated action to ensure all Nova Scotians are attached to a Family Doctor Clinic where they can receive the primary care they need and deserve. Chender spent Tuesday morning meeting with Nova Soctians waiting for care at walk-in clinics in the HRM.

“Dozens of Nova Scotians find themselves stuck waiting very early in the morning to try and be seen at the walk-in clinics that remain. I spoke with new parents, seniors and a number of health care workers who weren’t able to be at work because they had to go get to the clinics to get the care they need,” said Chender. “No mobile clinics were open, and we heard about a wait for virtual care if you didn’t pay for a Maple subscription.”

“I spoke with a nurse who has an autoimmune disease who needed a referral to an OBGYN. After arriving an hour before opening and being turned away previously, she was back standing in line trying to get the help she needs for her complex case. She needs a family doctor clinic with allied health professionals who can help her treat the various symptoms and challenges she has with her disease and to refer her to the appropriate specialists.”

As of June 1, there were 160,234 Nova Scotians on the Need a Family Practice Registry list and over 4,900 new people added themselves to the list last month. The patchwork of primary care options created by the Houston government fails to address the needs of Nova Scotians who deserve to have a health care provider that follows their health and is there to provide consistent care when they need it.

“This is a government who was elected to fix health care and the fix is clear. People need to be attached to primary care. The patchwork of access that has been provided is not sufficient. And in many cases, it's prolonging people's wait for things like referrals. That's why we will continue to call on this government to ensure that all Nova Scotians have access to a family doctor clinic and attachment to primary care,” said Chender.

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