Reducing Wait Times
Some people are waiting too long for needed health care. We are working with our health partners to change that.
Our plan to improve wait times includes hiring more doctors, nurses and other health care professionals. It means investing in equipment, like MRI's, so you can get the tests and treatments you need more quickly. And within the spirit and letter of the Canada Health Act, we will establish protection, standards, and control that will allow publicly funded, private facilities to play a clearly defined role in providing access to some health services.
We want to help seniors stay in their homes as long as possible - yet provide them with access to long-term care closer to home if and when they need it. That's why we are investing $68 million to expand home and community-based services and will have more than 800 long-term care beds by 2010.
Preventing illness and injury is another critical step in reducing our wait lists. We are teaching our children and young people lessons to last a lifetime to make inroads in the battle against obesity, smoking, and addiction to drugs and alcohol.
- Active Kids, Healthy Kids
- Food and Nutrition Policy for Nova Scotia Schools
- Nova Scotia's newest smoking rates
We are also working with communities to help construct new sport and recreation facilities, including 500 kilometres of trails. And we are working with all Nova Scotians, to help prevent injury, particularly addressing falls among the elderly, motor vehicle collisions, and suicide.