New Parents Can Electronically Register Babies at Hospital

Published by Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations

Tuesday, May 14, 2013

New electronic kiosks in nine Nova Scotia hospitals allow parents to register the birth of their baby and enroll their child in government programs and services.

Quotes

We know that filling out paperwork can take a lot of time, the birth registration kiosks make it easier and more convenient. We are pleased to offer parents this faster, easier option during such an exciting, busy time in their lives. John MacDonell, Minister of Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations

Parents are indicating to us that the kiosks are very helpful. The kiosks are easy to use and the whole process usually takes about 20 minutes. New parents like the convenience of completing birth registration before they even leave the hospital. Michelle LeDrew, director of the Women's and Newborn Health Program at the IWK Health Centre

The service is very convenient and easy to use. Electronically registering the birth of our daughter and applying for her birth certificate, social insurance number, Canada child benefits and health card in one location not only saves time, it is one less thing my wife and I need to worry about now that we are the busy parents of two children. Kevin Boudreau, from Upper Tantallon, who used the kiosk last month after his wife AnnMarie gave birth to their daughter Olivia.

Quick Facts

  • The nine hospitals with kiosks house 97 per cent of births in the province.
  • Hospitals with kiosks are:
    • IWK Health Centre, Halifax
    • Cape Breton Regional Hospital (Sydney Site)
    • Valley Regional Hospital, Kentville
    • Colchester Regional Hospital, Truro
    • St. Martha's Regional Hospital, Antigonish
    • Yarmouth Regional Hospital, Yarmouth
    • Aberdeen Hospital, New Glasgow
    • South Shore Regional Hospital, Bridgewater
    • Cumberland Regional Health Care Centre, Amherst
  • Parents of babies not born in the nine hospitals will continue to fill out paper forms.
  • The kiosks allow parents to access the following government programs and services:
    • applying for the baby's Social Insurance Number
    • applying for Canada Child Benefits
    • activating their baby's Health Card
    • registering the birth
    • ordering and paying for their baby's birth certificate.
  • The birth registration kiosks are part of the government's efforts to improve services to Nova Scotians. Before the kiosks, parents had to fill out paper forms to register their baby's birth and access services.

Learn More

Media Contact

Tracy Barron
902-424-2733
Cell: 902-497-3414
E-mail:

Images

New father Chris Richard and Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations Minister John MacDonell stand behind Heather Richard with daughter Neaven, at one of the new bundled birth kiosks.
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From left: New father Chris Richard, Michelle LeDrew, director, Women's and Newborn Health Program, IWK, and Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations Minister John MacDonell, stand behind Heather Richard with daughter Neaven.
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Michelle LeDrew, director, Women's and Newborn Health Program at the IWK Health Centre, discusses the new kiosks.
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Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations Minister John MacDonell talks about how the new kiosks with make things easier for parents during such a busy time.
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Audio

Minister of Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations John MacDonell outlines what parents can do at the kiosks.
He says they make it easier and more convenient for parents to fill out paperwork.
Michelle LeDrew, director of the Women's and Newborn Health Program at the IWK Health Centre says 1,200 families have used the kiosk at the hospital since it was introduced in February.