News Release Archive
HEALTH--EASTERN KINGS COUNTY-NEW COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTRE ------------------------------------------------------------ Residents in Wolfville and the surrounding area will soon benefit from a new community health centre. The Department of Health announced today its interim approval of a strategic plan and proposal which charts the development and establishment of the new health centre facility, to be located at the former Eastern Kings Memorial Hospital and Fundy Mental Health buildings in Wolfville. "This is an excellent example of how to use available resources to establish community-based health care services determined in partnership with the community itself," said Health Minister Ron Stewart. "Providing greater access to quality health care in the community is the underlying theme to health reform in Nova Scotia. The department is very pleased to work with the transition and strategic planning committees and the many other people who played an instrumental role in identifying an answer to a health care need in eastern Kings County." The community health centre will provide a variety of programs for residents including a clinic, health resource centre, counselling, radiology, and rehabilitative services. In October, the Department of Health gave $84,500 to the Eastern Kings Memorial Hospital to support health promotion and community clinic programs which are already well underway. Additional programs will be developed within the context of a regional planning process. The transition committee held 14 community consultation meetings over a three month period to determine health care needs. In addition, focus groups were held to identify concerns of specific age, interest and risk groups, and studies from Acadia University on student's medical needs were reviewed. Acting board chairman, Raymond Baltzer said, "It's very gratifying to get approval from the Department of Health. This will help us to focus on primary health care serving the needs of eastern Kings County." The transition committee and steering committee were comprised of representatives from communities in eastern Kings County who serve on the Eastern Kings Memorial Board; the Community Health Association and representatives from Wolfville Town Council; Acadia University student population and the physicians' group. -30- Contact: Sue McKeage 902-424-3581 trp Nov. 14, 1995