Health minister defends progress as family doctor waitlist grows
Posted Jun 27, 2024 02:41:37 PM.
Last Updated Jun 27, 2024 03:24:37 PM.
The health minister is defending the Nova Scotia government’s track record on health care after news this week that the list of people in need of a family doctor has grown again.
The registry has now surpassed 160,000 or about 16 per cent of the population..
Health Minister Michelle Thompson said the province has made gains on primary care appointments, through virtual care and mobile clinics.
“There are 70,000 access points being utilized in terms of receiving care,” she said.
The minister said the number of people waiting for a family doctor is “flattening”.
“It’s going to take some time,” Thompson said. “We know there is a global shortage of family physicians, we’ve done everything we can to increase the capacity. We’ve looked at how we can bring people from other places.”
The opposition meantime said Nova Scotians are still waiting for results on the PC’s promise to fix the healthcare system.
