Province Funds New Clinic for Richmond County

Richmond County residents will have better access to primary health-care services with a new, modern health clinic planned for L'Ardoise.

Health and Wellness Minister Maureen MacDonald announced today, Jan. 13, the province is providing $500,000 toward a new building to replace the 100-year-old facility that houses the Dr. W.B. Kingston Memorial Health Centre.

"The Dr. W.B. Kingston Memorial Health Centre plays a vital role in the community. The new clinic will encourage collaborative practices and patient-centred health care, and will help attract new physicians to the region," said Ms. MacDonald. "This investment is fulfilling the government's commitment to provide better health care for Nova Scotians and their families."

The new 6,000-square-foot clinic will be built near the present facility and will include examination rooms, offices, a multi-purpose room for meetings and health promotion activities, a diabetic clinic and a health services office for visiting physicians.

The new clinic will be built on the main floor to better accommodate patients who cannot climb stairs. Larger, more modern facilities will also make it easier for physicians from other parts of the province to visit the clinic to deliver specialized health care services to patients.

The design reflects the province's Better Care Sooner plan, which focuses on streamlining health care and improving access to doctors, nurses and other health-care professionals.

"This clinic started as a labour of love, and has grown to be a vital part of the community. We have patients from all over the region who come here. The new building will help us attract physicians and will enable us to deliver services more efficiently to more people," said Steve Sampson, chair of the Dr. W.B. Kingston Memorial Health Centre fundraising committee.

Dr. W.B. Kingston originally established the clinic in a house in 1977. At that time, it was the only health clinic within 65 kilometres. In 1983, it relocated to a renovated convent.

The practice now serves about 5,000 patients within a 50-kilometre radius of L'Ardoise. There are three family physicians practicing at the clinic.

The Department of Health and Wellness is one of several contributors to the project, along with Economic and Rural Development and Tourism and the Municipality of Richmond County. Community members are raising the remainder of the funds.

"This has truly been a collaborative effort, and I commend the community for its efforts to raise the funds to build the new clinic. Health-care providers here will be equipped to deliver top quality services that will contribute to even better quality of life across the region," said Ms. MacDonald.

For more information on the province's Better Care Sooner plan, visit www.gov.ns.ca/health/bettercaresooner .