Nova Scotia’s health minister, Michelle Thompson, affirms that the practice of holding public meetings in communities affected by emergency department closures will persist, despite the government repealing legislation last year that mandated such meetings. The legislation, which was introduced by the Progressive Conservatives and known as the Emergency Department Accountability Act, required an annual report detailing the total hours of emergency department closures across the province. Despite the repeal of this legislation, Nova Scotia Health officials have continued to conduct community meetings to keep residents informed about healthcare updates, including emergency department closures if applicable.
In 2025, unscheduled emergency department closures persisted in communities like Digby and Shelburne, while some areas, such as Lunenburg, saw a decrease in closures. Digby General Hospital and Roseway Hospital in Shelburne experienced over 4,800 hours of closure each, with other facilities like Strait Richmond Hospital and Hants Community Hospital also facing significant closure hours. As the government works to enhance healthcare services in these regions, virtual care options have been expanded to provide patients with access to medical assistance even during emergency department closures.
The decision to repeal the legislation was justified by Thompson citing the outdated nature of the annual reports, as they were published almost a year after the fiscal year ended. She pointed to the Action for Health public reporting website as an alternative source of healthcare system metrics. However, critics like NDP health critic Dr. Rod Wilson express concerns about the reliability of the current online data, emphasizing the importance of accurate and real-time information for patients seeking medical care.
Despite the repeal of the legislation, calls for accountability and transparency persist from politicians like Interim Liberal Leader Iain Rankin, who advocates for continued community meetings and public reporting to track improvements in the healthcare system. Rankin believes that publicizing data is crucial for monitoring progress and ensuring accountability in healthcare services.
