Province Supports Collaborative Health-Care Clinic in Bridgewater

People living in Bridgewater will soon have shorter waits and better access to family doctors with the announcement of a new collaborative health-care clinic.

Premier Darrell Dexter announced today, Jan. 7, that the province will support a new clinic, which could open as early as this spring. The collaborative facility will bring together a team of doctors, nurse practitioners and other health-care providers to provide better care.

"I know many Bridgewater residents have had great difficulty finding a family doctor, and were being forced to wait long hours in emergency departments to get the care they need," said Premier Darrell Dexter. "These challenges are all related and this situation is unacceptable. The province is pleased to support this new clinic, which will go a long way to alleviating the pressures in the health-care system in this community.

"This solution is the result of many people working together to ensure better care for the people of Bridgewater. The new clinic will shorten wait times and help to attract skilled physicians and other health-care providers to the area."

The Department of Health and Wellness will work with South Shore Health to establish the new clinic. The department will also ensure that the district health authority has the appropriate financial resources to secure a location for the clinic.

"This is great news for the people of Bridgewater and the surrounding areas," said Gary Ramey, ministerial assistant for Health and Wellness, on behalf of Health and Wellness Minister David Wilson. "Our hope is that with the establishment of this new centre, more physicians will come to the area and help bridge the gap between families and doctors."

"This new health centre would not have been possible without the support of the province," said Dr. Peter Vaughan, president and CEO of South Shore Health. "This support means the difference between us having an idea versus us having an actual location for our clinic."

Don Downe, Mayor of the Municipality of Lunenburg, also welcomed the support. "This is a great day for residents on the South Shore and for all who have worked hard at trying to bring together a solution. I congratulate the MLAs and the minister for their efforts."