Martin: Surgery cancellations becoming the new normal

SYDNEY - Tammy Martin, MLA for Cape Breton Centre and NDP Health and Wellness Spokesperson, made the following statement about the cancellation of surgeries at the Cape Breton Regional Hospital for the second time in a week:

“Another day, another round of surgeries cancelled because the regional is bursting at the seams. The McNeil Liberals are in denial about the health care crisis in Cape Breton. Stephen McNeil acts as though there is something to celebrate, while people are being treated in hallways and surgeries are delayed. The NDP has proposed solutions that would address the overcrowding at the Regional and keep community hospitals open in New Waterford and North Sydney. Opening new nursing home spaces would free up hospital beds currently occupied by patients requiring long-term care. Establishing Collaborate Emergency Centres at Northside General Hospital and the New Waterford Consolidated Hospital would keep emergency services in our community and keep pressure off the Regional. These common sense solutions have been ignored by the Liberals, and Cape Bretoners are paying the price.”