Women’s health services suffering under McNeil Liberals

Halifax -- The McNeil Liberals have cut or abandoned several services impacting women’s health care in Nova Scotia. All government-offered prenatal classes were recently cancelled and midwifery services in Antigonish were suspended late last month. Last year, the midwifery program on the South Shore was also suspended due understaffing by the NSHA.

“There is a health care crisis in our province and that extends to women’s health and pregnancy care,” said NDP Health spokesperson Tammy Martin. “Midwives are an important part of the health care system and could take some pressure off family practices if the province were willing to make the investment.”

The lack of action on midwifery and the cancellation of prenatal classes is contrary to the government’s stated aims for maternal health. Just this fall, the IWK was designated Baby-Friendly through the World Health Organization Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative.

“There seems to be a major disconnect between what’s happening in our hospitals, and the McNeil government’s talk. Promises are cheap. The Minister of Health agreed to provide Truro with a sexual assault nurse examiner, an important health service that’s needed for survivors of sexual violence and my community is still waiting,” said NDP Status of Women spokesperson Lenore Zann. “Services for women should be available no matter where you live in the province. Women outside of Halifax need care too.”

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