Emergency room closure time spiked more than 6,000 hours in Nova Scotia.
An annual report on emergency departments showed almost 22,000 closure hours in 2014-15.
Fishermen’s Memorial in Lunenburg had almost 3,500 closure hours and Roseway in Shelburne had 653.
NDP Health Critic Dave Wilson says it’s a significant increase.
“Two and a half years ago there were no closures reported with Roseway Hospital. Now, we see they have been closed well over 600 hours.”
The Liberal government brought in advanced-care paramedics to reduce the amount of closures at Roseway.
Wilson says it’s a step in the right direction but feels the Liberals waited too long to address the issue.
Meanwhile, Health Minister Leo Glavine says the bulk of ER closures are scheduled.
Of the almost 3,500 closure hours in Lunenburg, 3,300 were planned or expected while the other 200 were temporary.
However, all 653 closure hours at Roseway Hospital were due to doctor unavailability.
Glavine says they are on the right path to change that.
“With the medical clinic being built and two new doctors starting in July, there is certainly a very good scenario developing there.”
Glavine notes that ER closures in this fiscal year have dropped in Lunenburg.
