Healthcare Improvements – Issue #1

Why is Bill seeking the Liberal nomination for Annapolis? Healthcare improvements!

As mayor of the Town of Annapolis Royal, Bill was directly involved in efforts to recruit doctors and healthcare professionals. Having worked in hospitals in the past and trained in departmental management with the Canadian Hospital Association, he’s keenly aware of the key issues and challenges facing healthcare centres. Bill and his wife Adele were part of a team of volunteers showcasing our communities to prospective healthcare professionals being recruited by Nova Scotia Health. Their job was to help recruits decide if our region was the right fit for themselves and their families. They were successful with several people and, interestingly, they told them that money was not their top priority – but rather it was what sort of opportunities would there be for their spouses and children in the community; whether the community was welcoming and positive; and what the facilities and workplace environment were like. The money came into play after those questions were answered to their satisfaction.

There is absolutely no doubt that we need more healthcare providers in the Annapolis district, but it’s also clear that the solution is not simply throwing money at the problem. It’s also about making sure that there are opportunities for the healthcare professional’s whole family – and ensuring that our communities are attractive and welcoming to these prospective new residents. There is a global shortage of healthcare professionals – so we have to stand out. This includes investments in our healthcare in creative and innovative ways – like the new Middleton Collaborative Practice in the Town Of Middleton or the interesting ideas proposed by the Village of Lawrencetown. The pandemic has shown us that we can potentially do more with what we already have, but we definitely know we must do better.

The issue of paramedics and ambulance availability and response time are separate but equally critical issues. Emergency Health Services has acknowledged there is a problem. Plus we also need to listen to the people who often understand these problems the best – that often overlooked wisdom from the factory floor. In this case, it’s the paramedics themselves, represented by IUOE NS, who can help us find practical and helpful solutions.

Bill Mac Donald has been going to bat for our region around improvements to our healthcare system for years – and now, with your support for his nomination to be the Nova Scotia Liberal Party candidate for MLA, he will continue to fight for what we desperately need and deserve. Join Team MacDonald to support Bill – we’ll take care of the registration process for you.