Provincial funding for "state-of-the-art" medical clinic announced

Timothy Gillespie — Fri, 28 Aug 2015 19:55:35 +0000

300% of original commitment by McNeil government

ER closures to continue?

A much-needed new clinic for Shelburne-area residents will soon enter the final stages of development, according to an announcement in Shelburne Friday.

Premier Stephen McNeil announced that the Nova Scotia government will contribute $1.65 million to renovate the old health clinic on the Roseway Hospital property. The new facility will now be referred to as a "primary health-care collaborative centre" and will have a team of family physicians and other health professionals.

The Municipality of Shelburne has committede $450,000 to the project and the Town of Shelburne pledged $100,000, in addition to funds promised by the Roseway Hospital Charitable Foundation.

The project, says the release, will move into the final design phase, with construction expected to begin next spring.

"It's about time," Pubnico-Barrington MLA and former health minister Chris d'Entrement told SCT. "This will be a long road. Getting new doctors here will not happen overnight."

"The community played a key role in identifying the need for a modern primary health-care facility," said Bob Legere, chair of the Roseway Hospital Charitable Foundation, today, Aug. 28. "Our foundation is pleased to join the Municipality and Town of Shelburne and the province in giving local people an opportunity to play a part in bringing this new health centre another step towards reality."

"The community was clear about their expectations for this facility, and the government listened and acted," said Premier Stephen McNeil. "We are working to ensure Nova Scotians have access to the right care at the right place, at the right time."

Health and Wellness Minister Leo Glavine said the group effort made the new clinic and its approach possible.

Glavine also noted that there will be no changes made in the emergency room at Roseway Hospital. A Shelburne resident who asked not to be named told SCT "this probably means that we will continue to have the rash of ER closures we have seen recently."

Shelburne mayor Karen Mattatall told the assembled crowd that she hoped that this announcement meant that area residents would receive the level of health care guaranteed by the Canadian Health Care Act.

"Young doctors and health professionals are telling me they want to work in collaborative care clinics like this one," said Mr. Glavine. "The community and governments worked hard to make this clinic a reality, and I'd like to thank everyone for their strong advocacy and support."

"This clinic will help us provide the types of care residents need early on, which will help them stay healthy and, in some cases, may help them avoid the emergency room," said Janet Knox, CEO of the Nova Scotia Health Authority. "It will also be a great recruitment tool as we work to attract more physicians, nurses and other health professionals to the Shelburne area."

The clinic will also include space for family medicine residents from Dalhousie University on residency placement in Shelburne.

Glavine referred to the new facility as a "teaching" facility, which was news to other participants in the announcement.

The project has been six years in the making, which has drawn ctiticism from Municipality of Shelburne warden Roger Taylor, who has previously accused health department officials of bungling the process

A 2011 announcement described the project as a more traditional doctor's office. It did not include space for health teams working together or residents who are part of the family medicine residency program.

The province had originally committed $429,000 to the project, but as it evolved, more investments were needed for the design and scope.

In a news release, the Municipality of Shelburne says it welcomes the significant investment announced today by Premier McNeil and Minister Glavine to enhance what they describe as "our community medical clinic." The project, says the release, "represents a major plank in our commitment to improve health care for the residents of greater Shelburne."

The release says that the Municipality was the first government to commit funds to the project and that they are pleased that the Province has announced their partnership today. Warden Taylor said, "For three years it was not clear if this project was even a priority for the previous District Health Authority or the Province. In our first meeting three months ago with Minister Glavine, after being briefed by Council on the project, he committed that this project would become a priority for him and his Department, and we are pleased he kept that commitment."

The new medical clinic, according to the release, gives the region a new and important tool to recruit doctors, nurses, and nurse practitioners. "These are priorities for us given that Shelburne County remains one of the most under serviced areas in the province. We must also recruit for pending family doctor retirements."

"We look forward to working with the Nova Scotia Health Authority to build the clinic as soon as possible."

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Provincial funding for "state-of-the-art" medical clinic announced