Government moves slowly on laws improving provinces health care

When the House of Assembly passes legislation, the expectation is that it will be proclaimed by the government within days. Too often, that's not the case. For example, the Registered Nurses Act received Royal Assent in November 2006. Despite this, for almost three years, nurse practitioners in Nova Scotia have not been able to practise to their full extent as a result of Rodney MacDonald's dithering.
As of April 1, the Conservative government quietly proclaimed the Registered Nurses Act. Nova Scotians welcome this news, although it is three years later than expected.
This proclamation is important because Nova Scotians need nurse practitioners to be able to work to their full scope of practise because it lifts some of the burden off doctors, alleviates wait times, and allows more Nova Scotians access to the care that they need in the appropriate settings, as opposed to going to emergency rooms for non-emergency situations.
The Rodney MacDonald government has proved, time and time again, that they are unable to recruit and retain health-care workers, and for the last three years have been dragging their feet in passing legislation that would help these critical health-care professionals work to their full scope of practice, and ultimately ease the current burdens on our health-care system.
Nurse practitioners are frustrated, as they should be, and are contacting my office, and those of my NDP colleagues, for help.
While the Conservative government has finally proclaimed the Registered Nurses Act, equally important is the development and implementation of a province-wide nurse practitioner strategy.
Believe it or not, but in 2008, the Health Department funded just 27 nurse practitioner positions in the province, and not all of those positions were filled.
District health authorities all across the province have recruited and hired nurse practitioners to work in collaborative care clinics without any direction or input from the Health Department. The Conservative government has to do more, and can.
Health care has to be a priority for this government. With the right focus and strong leadership, Nova Scotians can have timely access to the quality health care they deserve. Our province is in a difficult period. The economy is weak and jobs are being lost, but through it all, health care is the single most important responsibility of the provincial government.
Unfortunately, too many Nova Scotians are still waiting far too long, and it is a direct result of the Conservative government's inability to address Nova Scotians' No. 1 concern: shorter wait times.
If you would like to speak to me, or arrange a time to come in and talk, please call me at 461-0181.
weeklydartmouth@hfxnews.ca