South West Health

Serving Shelburne, Yarmouth and Digby Counties

News Release

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

 

Further Increases to Services at Islands Health Centre

 

Residents of Long and Brier Islands can depend on increased access to primary health care services at the Islands Health Centre.

 

From Monday, January 18,until the end of February, the health centre is scheduled to be open 27 days out of a possible 30 (to see calendar, click HERE). Over half of those days will see both a Nurse Practitioner and a Family Physician working together at the health centre. This means twice as many patients will be able to receive care on those days.

 

South West Health has secured the additional coverage on an interim basis while recruitment continues for a new full-time Nurse Practitioner for the Island Health Centre. The active recruitment campaign includes advertising in newspapers, universities and nursing licensing bodies and professional associations across Canada.

 

“We have formed some valuable partnerships with these health care providers who are providing interim coverage at the Islands Health Centre,” said Blaise MacNeil, CEO of South West Health. “The residents of Long & Brier Islands will be able to access safe and quality health services while we vigorously pursue a permanent solution.”

 

Dr. Ken Buchholz will be available on alternate Mondays and Tuesdays through the rest of January and February. Nurse Practitioner Melanie Thibeau will see patients each Tuesday while Nurse Practitioner Deb Misner will continue at the centre every Wednesday as usual. Starting January 21, a new Nurse Practitioner and Physician will see patients every Thursday and Friday.     

 

For more information, please call the Islands Health Centre at 839-2398. Winter storms may affect service at the health centre, so please call ahead. Residents should call 911 in a medical emergency. To speak to a Registered Nurse about non-emergency and non-urgent health concerns 24 hours a day, seven days a week, please dial 811.

 

CLICK HERE: Islands Health Centre Jan / Feb 2010 (.pdf format)

 

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Media Contact: Fraser Mooney, Communications Director, 902-749-0517

fmooney@swndha.nshealth.ca