Nova Scotia’s opposition parties say the Liberals are not working with them to address the health care crisis.
The Legislature’s health care committee met Tuesday to set their agenda.
NDP MLA Susan Leblanc says her party wanted to discuss emergency room overcrowding and offload delays.
“When ambulances get backed up in ERs and ambulance drivers can’t go to new calls that’s a very serious issue in and of itself. But it also points to other parts of the health care system that are in crisis.”
Leblanc says people arriving in ERs are sicker because they don’t have family doctors.
And people can’t be admitted to hospital because the beds are taken by those needing long-term care.
Leblanc says she wants this domino effect to be addressed by the Health Committee.
Government members say they want to make the best use of the committee’s time.
Liberal Hugh MacKay says some of the opposition parties suggestions could be addressed under other topics.
MacKay says offloading could be discussed under their redevelopment programs on how emergency departments can be run.
“All parties again, recognize the importance of the ambulance offloading and getting our EHS vehicles back on the road where they’re going to be helping people.”
MacKay says healthcare has to be at the forefront of the government’s agenda.
PC MLA Karla MacFarlane says her party was keen to hear from physicians about the struggles they’re facing.
“Of course we hit that proverbial brick wall again yesterday with the Liberals with not allowing us to bring in Dr.MacGillvary and other witnesses to discuss that subject matter.”
Dr. Jeannie MacGillvary says she resigned from St. Martha’s Regional Hospital in Antigonish in part, because she couldn’t achieve a healthy work-life balance.
MacFarlane says if the Liberals continue to use their majority to block witnesses, it will be difficult for the committee to meet their goals.
MacKay says government does want to hear from physicians.
But one doctor can’t possibly represent the concerns of every physician across the province.
“To zero in on one doctor’s perspective wouldn’t be fair to the rest of the doctors who have opinions that may not align directly with hers.”
MacKay suggests it would be better to speak with a group representing physicians, such as Doctors Nova Scotia.
He says top of mind for government members of the committee right now is the construction of the new health care facilities in Cape Breton and Halifax.
Reported by: Ed Halverson
Twitter: @edwardhalverson
E-mail: halverson.ed@radioabl.ca
