The Lunenburg Hospital is one of those selected for the changes to emergency room procedures. There will be fewer doctors on staff but they will remain on call. The hospital in Lunenburg has had continuous problems staffing the emergency room. There are of course rumors about doctors living in Bridgewater and not wanting to work nights in a hospital 20 minutes away, there is a conspiracy theory and other pieces of incomplete or misinformation. But the fact remains things are changing.
Nova Scotia cannot afford to do the same old, for very much longer so changes are welcome. The concern is always that government ministers think things through before making changes that are difficult to reverse. For example over 10 years ago, the government of the day, decided to give regions more voice in health care and this was accomplished by creating more health authorities with the all the administration and expense that entails. We can't afford that type of top heavy system and now the work is underway to try and streamline and consolidate functions so they will be more cost effective.
Will it work? Only time will tell. But change is needed, care needs to improve and costs need to be kept affordable...well at least manageable.
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