The Cape Breton Regional Hospital is getting a new emergency department, critical care department and cancer centre as part of a major expansion.
Health and Wellness Minister Randy Delorey announced plans in Sydney today, March 25. The expansion is part of the CBRM Health Care Redevelopment Project and will transform the way health care is delivered, improving access to care and creating more reliable, sustainable services.
The Cape Breton Regional Municipality (CBRM) Health Care Redevelopment project team is looking for volunteer patient and family advisors to provide input into the redevelopment project.
The team is looking for eight community-minded individuals who can use their experience with the health system as a patient, family member, caregiver, or citizen to contribute to the project. There will be two volunteers from each of the communities linked to the project – Sydney (2), Glace Bay (2), North Sydney (2) and New Waterford (2).
Work on the CBRM Health Care Redevelopment project is proceeding well. Here are recent developments with the project.
Leadership team
A senior medical director has been added to the leadership team. The team now includes:
Cape Breton orthopaedic surgeon Dr. Kevin Orrell has been named senior medical director for the CBRM Health Care Redevelopment Project. He joins a local leadership team that will help to reshape health care delivery in the Cape Breton Regional Municipality (CBRM).
In his role, Dr. Orrell will collaborate with family doctors and specialists, Nova Scotia Health Authority (NSHA) staff and local communities to ensure the infrastructure being created will meet the current and future health needs of patients.
Government and the Nova Scotia Health Authority announced plans to reshape and revitalize Cape Breton’s health system to better connect patients and their families to the care they need.
A new Community-Based Paramedic Program is coming to CBRM. Paramedics will care for patients at home, do follow-up visits after they’ve been discharged from the hospital, and support residents with chronic diseases, all of which will reduce unnecessary trips to emergency departments.
Jeff Fraser, Director of Provincial Operations, Emergency Health Services, speaks to the value of this new program.
Cape Bretoners will get the right care, at the right time, in the right place. New, modern community health centres will be built in North Sydney and New Waterford, creating space for family doctors, nurses and other health professionals to deliver care in the community.
Dr. Rod McGory, Surgeon, discusses the benefits this redevelopment.
The Cape Breton Cancer Centre is doubling in size. An additional 20,000 square feet of space will better meet the needs of patients, families and communities across Cape Breton and other parts of the province. An expanded Cancer Centre will mean more treatment and support care services, with more clinical trials, education and research.
Dr. Rod McGory, Surgeon, discusses the impact this redevelopment.
The emergency departments at the Cape Breton Regional and Glace Bay hospitals will be enhanced and expanded to better meet the demands of the community.
Dr. Chris Milburn, and Emergency Room Doctor, explains why this is important.
Functional planning for the CBRM health redevelopment project started in summer 2018 and is expected to take nine to 12 months.
The work includes reviewing and updating previous plans, developing a detailed plan for all services and facilities involved, and determining the location and number of hospital beds for the area. Local site leads are in place. Local health professionals have been and will continue to be part of this planning work.
