Tim Houston campaigned on a promise that he would solve the province’s primary care shortage. It hasn’t worked.

The head of emergency medicine for Halifax and the surrounding area says ERs are under the most extreme pressure that he’s seen in his 23-year career, and he says it’s taking a toll on patients and health-care workers. Emergency medicine is in a state of “crisis” amid a shortage of nurses, physicians and hospital beds, and with a rise in patients with complex needs, Dr. Kirk Magee, chief of the central zone’s network of emergency departments, said in an interview Thursday.

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Houston pledges to tackle health-care problems.

Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston and his health minister met with medical leaders Tuesday afternoon to tackle the multitude of problems plaguing the health-care system. While the premier told reporters the so-called “health partners summit” had been called a few weeks ago, he said the focus was on addressing the current health-care crisis.

Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston held a summit with provincial health-care leaders Tuesday after the recent deaths of two patients who sought treatment in hospital emergency departments. "The events over the last week or so have put in a new sense of urgency," Houston said in reference to the deaths of Allison Holthoff and Charlene Snow — two women who died at the end of December while waiting for care.

Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston pledged his government's full support for a health-care system 'in crisis' on Power & Politics Tuesday.

Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston says he’s “open to anything” to improve the province’s struggling health-care system. Houston made the comments following a summit of health-care partners Tuesday, which included representatives from regulatory colleges, professional associations, education institutions, unions and service providers.

A news conference will be held Wednesday morning where Health Minister Michelle Thompson and Nova Scotia Health president and CEO Karen Oldfield are expected to announce “improvements” to care provided at emergency departments. The briefing follows a rare meeting on Tuesday between Premier Tim Houston, Thompson, top civil servants, and “health care partners,” which included organizations representing doctors, nurses, pharmacists, licensing bodies, and universities.  

HALIFAX, N.S. — Our health care system may needing intensive care right now, but the prognosis isn’t as dire according to the people in the system. Doctors Nova Scotia President Dr. Leisha Hawker says it’s good to see the province making it a priority and making changes. Although some of the recent announcements by government for triaging emergency room patients has her concerned.