MCNEIL OFFERS LIBERAL SOLUTION FOR ER CLOSURES TO GOVERNMENT
Date: Friday July 17, 2009

(DIGBY, NS) Liberal leader Stephen McNeil is offering the new
government a Liberal solution to some of the emergency room closures
plaguing rural Nova Scotia.

Speaking at a caucus strategy retreat in Digby County, McNeil says a
Liberal plan for an ER doctor locum service would help prevent closures,
including the current two day shutdown of the local ER at the Digby
General hospital.

“The implementation of a locum service for doctors willing to service
ERs is an effective, creative way to help ease the staffing problems at
ERs,” said McNeil. “We know of doctors who are willing to travel and
provide service - some Nova Scotia doctors are actually travelling out
of province to cover ER shifts. Unfortunately, there is no central
registry to link those doctors with the hospitals who need their
services here in our province.”

This locum service has been proposed by the vice-president of the Nova
Scotia Liberal Party, Dr. John Gillis, who is also an emergency room
physician. Liberals introduced legislation last spring to implement such
a locum registry.

“It is not enough for opposition to criticize - we must provide
constructive solutions,” said McNeil. “With that in mind, our caucus
will be sending all our information and suggestions about a central
registry for a locum service to the new government.”

“We invite the premier and the new government to implement this
Liberal idea.”


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