Houston can’t ignore ER closures during summer

HALIFAX — Especially during the summer months, the Houston government can’t ignore the issues of ER closures in Nova Scotia hospitals. Last year’s ER Accountability Report found that emergency room closures doubled year over year.

“People have been increasingly worried about the state of emergency medicine in our province and frontline health care workers are stretched beyond capacity with staffing shortages,” said NDP Health Spokesperson Susan Leblanc. “We know there are additional staffing pressures during the summer months and Tim Houston needs to tell Nova Scotians what he’s doing to help those working in our hospitals and to ensure there is care when and where people need it.”

On the last day of June, the Canadian Association of Emergency Physicians put out a press saying they were “once again deeply concerned” about the number of ER closures during the summer.

"Unexpected emergency department closures during the summer months can have dire consequences for patients,” said Dr. Michael Howlett, President of CAEP in the release. “Emergencies don't take a vacation, and people continue to require urgent medical attention regardless of the season. It is crucial that we maintain a robust and accessible emergency care system year-round."

According to the Nova Scotia Health ER waits website, Friday’s worst expected wait times were at the Cape Breton Regional Hospital at anywhere between 4 hours 45 minutes to 7 hours 30 minutes. Both the Glace Bay and Strait Richmond Hospitals’ emergency departments were closed over the weekend.

-30-