Younger: Dartmouth General Funding Too Late, Too Preliminary

December 16, 2011

 

(Halifax, NS) Andrew Younger, Liberal MLA for Dartmouth East, says that he welcomes the Dexter government’s funding announcement for the Darmouth General, but it comes years too late and will do nothing to address overcrowding there over the next few years.

 

“We’ve been calling for a plan to be put into action at this hospital for over two years,” says Younger. “Today’s announcement comes after years of chronic overcrowding at the hospital and does nothing to address the short-term challenges.”

 

Younger cautions against assuming this announcement will solve the problems at the facility.

 

“Even the government admits their announcement is about a ‘preliminary design,’” says Younger. “They have not committed the funds for the expansion. Overcrowding will continue until the Dexter government makes those funds available and construction is complete.”

 

Younger says it is unfortunate that the Dexter government waited until the situation was critical before making such a preliminary announcement.

 

“Between November 2010 and November 2011 there were 173 code census at the Dartmouth General,” says Younger. “There were as many as three code census a week because of the problem of chronic overcrowding that this government has ignored for years.”

 

“The Dexter government needs to move more decisively on such urgent matters in the future instead of waiting for the situation to become critical.”

 

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