News release

New Clinic Will Ensure Better Care for Bridgewater Families

Health and Wellness

Bridgewater-area families are one step closer to having better care sooner from family doctors and other health-care providers.

Construction is beginning this week on a 9,254-square-foot collaborative health clinic with up to eight family doctors, two nurse practitioners, and other primary health care providers. The clinic is an addition to the Medical Arts Building on Glen Allen Drive in Bridgewater.

"Families in this community are telling me that they're having a hard time finding a doctor," said Gary Ramey, ministerial assistant for Health and Wellness. "That's not acceptable. Nova Scotians need to know that when someone in their family needs care, those services will be there for them.

"This new clinic will bring a variety of health-care professionals together to serve those families who otherwise would have to travel to another community or seek basic care in the emergency room."

Department of Health and Wellness, South Shore Health, the Bridgewater Development Association, and other partners have been working together to address an urgent need for family doctors and create a more sustainable long-term solution for the community.

The department will ensure South Shore Health has financial resources to establish the new clinic and fund doctors who are recruited to work there.

"Building a collaborative health clinic is a critical step to attract doctors and other health care providers to Bridgewater," said Janet Simm, South Shore Health's vice-president of health services. "We will now be able to offer the kind of practice setting we know many health professionals are seeking. We won't be selling the dream anymore."

After a thorough assessment of developers, the LaHave Investments Limited was chosen to build the clinic. Construction is expected to take eight or nine months. Temporary space will be made available in the Medical Arts Building for physicians and other health care professionals who are recruited sooner.

"This is about working together to attract skilled health professionals, and ultimately to provide better health care in our community," said Darren Lipsett, chair of Bridgewater Development Association's Collaborative Health Clinic Action Team. "Through this clinic, we're building a stronger and healthier community for our residents and businesses."