BR NS Auditor Report Health – CP

Source: The Canadian Press – Broadcast wire
Jun 9, 2016 3:00

HALIFAX – Nova Scotia’s health minister says there is no plan to close any hospitals despite a report saying the system can’t reasonably sustain its current facilities.

Auditor General Michael Pickup says the province has to move away from a hospital-based system because of fiscal woes that have resulted in an 85-million-dollar shortfall in funding needed for urgent repairs and maintenance.

Health Minister Leo Glavine says a system review will determine how hospitals are ultimately used in the future, although closures are not being contemplated.

Nova Scotia Health Authority C-E-O Janet Knox says it will take some time before an overall plan is developed because of the recent amalgamation from nine health authorities to a single unit.

But Knox says the foundation for service delivery in the future needs to be community-based primary health care.

Currently there are 41 hospitals and health care centres across the province.

—

ked

(The Canadian Press)

INDEX: HEALTH ATLANTIC POLITICS