Families need serious improvements in health care in 2023

HALIFAX – Nova Scotians deserve serious improvements to health care in 2023. While families and seniors continue to struggle to access primary health care and afford their medications the Houston government has overseen a massive increase in the doctor’s waitlist that has led to pressure on ERs across the province that has nearly overwhelmed the system.

“We hear from people almost every day about how difficult it is for them and their families to see a doctor and access health care,” said NDP Leader Claudia Chender. “This government has been in power for almost a year and a half and we’ve seen most things get worse as our health care system struggles under the weight of under-staffing and increased demand.”

Other provinces are taking innovative steps such as in Newfoundland and Labrador and Manitoba where governments have created provincially-based travel nurse incentives or British Columbia which recently announced a new remuneration system for primary care providers.

“When month after month, thousands of new people find themselves on the family doctor waitlist, something is seriously wrong,” said NDP Health spokesperson Susan Leblanc. “The government’s “fix” of virtual care has also struggled under the surge in demand and people don’t know where to turn. We need bold, systemic change to protect and improve our universal, public health care system.”

The December Primary Care Provider waitlist reached an all-time high of over 125,000 people looking for a family doctor.

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