Younger: Government Failures at Dartmouth General Cannot Be Ignored

October 23, 2009

(Halifax, NS)  In the House of Assembly this week, Dartmouth East Liberal MLA Andrew Younger repeatedly challenged the Minister of Health to find a solution to the growing emergency room chaos currently gripping the Dartmouth General Hospital.

“Over the last two weeks, the Dartmouth General has seen no less that five Code Oranges and capacity levels anywhere from 150 to 240 per cent,” Younger says. “The situation is unraveling and frankly, this government’s lack of action and lack of accountability have been very disappointing.

“The NDP government has known about this issue since shortly after getting elected and have done nothing to address the situation in the short term,” explained Younger. “During question period in the legislature, the NDP government's only response has been to blame others and suggest that a plan will come in the next fiscal year."

"The Minister’s advice for the staff and patients at the Dartmouth General is to ‘tough it out’ - that is simply not good enough.”

Younger says patients and staff at the Dartmouth General are facing a critical situation now and a short-term plan must immediately be instituted. Medical staff at the Dartmouth General say the addition of as few as six to eight beds could be that answer. But the NDP health minister is content to blame others.

Younger is concerned that if the government does not take quick action, the problem will only worsen as the winter months come upon us.

“This is traditionally a slower time of year for emergency rooms,” says the Liberal MLA for Dartmouth East. “Slip and fall injuries brought on by ice and snow and the peak of flu season, both of which add pressure to emergency rooms, haven't even begun.”

-30-