Antigonish MLA Randy Delorey, Health and Wellness Minister
the province`s nurses.
Last week, the Nova Scotia Nurses Union presented a report on heath care with 35 recommendations they would like to see. Some of recommendations include training for registered nurses to allow them to prescribe medications and order diagnostic tests, hiring nurse practitioners to assist with in-home care, and allowing nurse practitioners to admit and transfer patients.
Health Minister and Antigonish MLA Randy Delorey said he had a preliminary look at the recommendations, noting it will take some time to go through them in the level of detail needed to determine next steps. He said the government has a history of collaborating with representatives of the nurses union and the college of nurses.
Delorey said the province will review the recommendations and connect with the union to discuss and prioritize potential actions they can take.
Janet Hazelton, president of the NSNU, said people know there is an issue in the province about accessing primary healthcare. She said the report identifies how nurses can be part of the solution to the issue and work with other health care providers to provide the service to increase access to primary health care professionals.