CLOSURE OF SOLDIERS MEMORIAL ER STRAINING RESOURCES: LIBERALS
Date: Tuesday August 18, 2009

(Halifax, NS) Annapolis Valley Liberal MLAs Stephen McNeil and Leo
Glavine are today warning the NDP government that the emergency room
shutdown at Soldiers Memorial is applying tremendous pressure on
resources and staff at Valley Regional Hospital.

“Valley Regional is already feeling the stress of the weekend
closures of the walk-in clinic at Eastern Kings Memorial Community
Health Centre,” explains Glavine. “Forcing Valley Regional to now
take on patients from Soldiers will only add to a tenuous situation,
especially with the Annapolis Valley Exhibition taking place this
week.”

The ER at Soldiers Memorial Hospital was closed for 13 hours on Monday
and is scheduled to shutdown again on Saturday from 7:00am to 8:00pm.
McNeil says the lengthy closure means constituents in his riding will
have to travel upwards of 40 minutes for emergency care and the Liberal
leader believes that is unacceptable.

“Emergency healthcare is an essential service that Nova Scotians
expect straightforward access to,” McNeil says. “To arrive at an ER
and find the doors locked is simply not good enough.”

McNeil has been disappointed by the NDP government’s lack of response
to the province-wide ER closures, pointing to the New Democrats election
promise to keep all ERs open 24/7.

“Premier Dexter told Nova Scotians that emergency rooms would stay
open and that a provincial coordinator would be in place to deal this
growing crisis,” states McNeil. “Liberals even provided the new
government with a short-term solution to ER doctor vacancies.”

“Unfortunately, the NDP government has failed to follow through on
its commitment to Nova Scotians.”

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