With another winter coming up, ground still has not been broken on a new health-care complex that announced for New Waterford, N.S., more than eight years ago. “We have been waiting patiently – and not so patiently – for construction to start,” said Dr. Jennifer Lange, a family physician and site lead at the New Waterford Consolidated Hospital. The new building was supposed to replace New Waterford Consolidated, which was built in 1963. Physicians said the aging building has become a subpar place to work and deliver care, not to mention a tough sell when trying to recruit new doctors. “When they come and visit and they see the leaking pipes and the pot in the ceiling to hold the dripping water and the tiny spaces and the fishy smells coming from the pipes, it’s very hard to promote it as a good environment to practice health care in,” Lange said, adding that the old hospital also has significant heating and cooling problems. “The only reason why I’m still here is because of my patients,” said Dr. Emmanuel Ajuwon. The new health hub was announced by the Stephen McNeil Liberal government in 2018. A new high school and community wellness centre next door that were promised that same day have since opened. Physicians and community members are calling on the Tim Houston government to follow through. Ajuwon said if the build is delayed much longer – or simply doesn’t happen – he might leave the community he has practised in for a dozen years. “Twelve years and counting is a long time but everybody has that breaking point where they say, ‘Well, I think I’ve really tried enough,’” Ajuwon said. “I might get to that point, really,” Greg Boone, a retired spokesperson for the Nova Scotia Health Authority and longtime resident of the New Waterford area, said communication with government about the issue has been vague. “It was promised, it was planned, it was designed,” Boone said. “And we want to see the project completed.” The group is now inviting Health Minister Michelle Thompson and other officials from the Department of Health and Wellness to meet with physicians and the community for a concrete update. “If they plan to make a change or plan to cancel the project, then come and tell us directly what the plan is or what the plan isn’t,” Boone said. CTV Atlantic contacted the Department of Health and Wellness for comment on Tuesday, but they did not provide any further information by deadline. For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page
