ER report could support closures in rural hospitals: Grits
Posted Apr 9, 2010 05:33:08 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
An interim report on Nova Scotia’s health care system has raised concerns over the likelihood of emergency room closures in rural communities.
Dr. John Ross released an interim report Thursday saying that it may not be possible to simply add more money to fix rural ERs that frequently close because of staff shortages.
Ross says the key could be finding more intelligent ways to use the limited number of doctors and nurses the system already has, and making more use of licenced practical nurses and paramedics.
He noted that several rural ERs are underused at some points of the day, a point of concern for the Liberal health critic.
In the legislature, Diana Whalen quoted a portion of the report that states some rural emergency rooms have less than one patient visit per night and few true emergencies.
“Five hospitals reviewed averaged less that one patient per night,” she said during question period. “We are not so naïve as to consider that the minister doesn’t know what those five hospitals are.”
Diana Whalen questioned whether this information was sufficient for the NDP to break its promise and close rural ER’s.
She also asked the health minister to reveal which hospitals were kept secret in the report.
Health Minister Maureen MacDonald would not name names.
“There would be nothing to be gained to start naming hospitals that have low emergency room attendance,” said MacDonald.
She says she’s waiting for the recommendations.
MacDonald would not comment on whether the report will lead to ER closures.
