Why aren’t there more family doctors? Two-and-a-half years after the Houston government came to power on a promise to “fix” health care, there are now 150,047 people registered on the aptly named wait list called “needafamilypractice.” The province continues to spend tens of millions of dollars annually on efforts to retain and recruit family doctors and nurses. 

his is the second instalment in a Global News series called Code Critical, which examines the issues impacting the health-care system in Nova Scotia. Read Part 1: How a N.S. woman without a family doctor prays her family ‘doesn’t get sick.’

As a family doctor in Halifax, Dr. Leisha Hawker is well aware of the demands and burnout she and her colleagues face daily.

Nova Scotia Health Minister Michelle Thompson sat down with Global News as part of our series called Code Critical, which examines the issues impacting the health-care system. Read Part 1: How a N.S.

The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Nova Scotia(opens in a new tab) is drafting the Professional Standard Regarding Conscientious Objection, which includes a policy that would force doctors to provide an ‘effective referral’ for surgical or medical treatments that go against their values or beliefs. This usually happens for cases like medical assistance in dying (MAID), abortion, and gender-affirming care.

Paul Morris is looking forward to the day he has a primary care provider as he approaches three years on the provincial registry for people who need a family doctor. In June 2021, Morris and his wife moved to Concession, N.S., from Ontario for retirement. At the time, 6.8 per cent of the population in Digby, Clare and Weymouth were on the registry. Now, the couple is among 20 per cent of the local population who say they need a family practice, according to Nova Scotia Health data. 

When Brenda MacDonald found out her family doctor was closing her practice back in October 2021, the Halifax-area woman immediately did two things: put herself and her two sons on the province’s family physician waitlist, then held her breath.