Province Invests in Care Providers to Help Nova Scotians
As many as 10,000 Nova Scotians will have better access to family doctors, nurse practitioners, and family practice nurses.
Health and Wellness Minister David Wilson today, Nov. 30, announced primary care practice teams will expand, adding 12 new family doctors, nurse practitioners and family practice nurses over the next few months.
The teams will serve residents of Preston, Shelburne, Indian Brook and Guysborough/Canso, as well as New Waterford, L'Ardoise and Neil's Harbour.
"This will mean people in these communities will be able to see a health-care provider faster," said Mr. Wilson during a visit to the Community Health and Wellness Centre in North Preston. "We are keeping our commitment to reduce wait times and ensure Nova Scotians have access to the care they need, when they need it."
The team serving North Preston, East Preston, Cherry Brook, and Lake Loon residents will include a family doctor, nurse practitioner and family practice nurse who will work with the centre's current health-care providers.
"This centre is an important part of our community," said Rev. Wayne Desmond of Cherry Brook. "Having more providers offering a wider range of services here will help residents get the support and care they need to better look after their own health."
Capital Health and IWK Health Centre are working to enhance care for families, seniors, children and youth in these communities.
"Effective primary health care includes access to a collaborative team, such as the one that we are expanding here at the Community Health and Wellness Centre in North Preston," said Lynn Edwards, health services director of primary health care at Capital Health. "A team of health-care professionals is better able to manage chronic disease, provide wellness promotion and co-ordination, and enable access for urgent health issues for the citizens of these communities."
Expanding access to collaborative primary care teams is a key commitment of the province's recent Physician Resource Plan. The plan identifies several ways to improve care access through better planning and management.
"We're seeing first-hand how offering a collaborative, team-based approach to care can improve access for patients, and serve as a valuable recruitment tool," said Mr. Wilson.
The province is also providing additional support to 15 primary care teams across the province by investing $200,000 to help meet growing demands.
For more information on the province's Better Care Sooner and Physician Resource plans, visit www.novascotia.ca/dhw .