Collaborative Emergency Centre Will Provide Better Care for Springhill Area

Nova Scotia's fourth Collaborative Emergency Centre has been announced for Springhill.

People living in the community and surrounding areas will soon have access to same-day, or next-day medical appointments and 24/7 emergency care.

The creation of Collaborative Emergency Centres fulfills a key commitment of Better Care Sooner, government's response to the Ross Report.

The centres help address issues of emergency department overcrowding and long waits to see family doctors. They will keep emergency departments open, reduce patient wait times and provide a team-based approach that offers continuity of care.

"More than anything else, Nova Scotians want peace of mind with regard to our health care," said Health and Wellness Minister Maureen MacDonald. "Government made a commitment to ensure better health care for Nova Scotians and their families, and with today's announcement of another collaborative emergency centre, we are fulfilling that commitment."

Services at the Collaborative Emergency Centre include access to primary health care by a team of professionals, including doctors and nurse practitioners, for 12 hours per day, seven days per week, while providing emergency care 24/7.

In Springhill, decisions are still being made about the exact structure of the centre. The Cumberland Health Authority is working with the community and officials at the Department of Health and Wellness to develop the best centre for the area.

"Collaborative Emergency Centers will be tailored to meet the individual health care needs of each community," said Bruce Quigley, CEO of the Cumberland Health Authority. "The Cumberland Health Authority will be working with the community, the staff at All Saints, and the physicians to ensure the collaborative model that is implemented in Springhill makes best use of the skill sets that are available and is best suited to meet the needs of the local citizens."

Nova Scotia's first Collaborative Emergency Centre opened in Parrsboro in July.

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