Plans for Health Services Centre Advance

Plans to develop a health services centre in Digby continue to move forward as Digby and Area Health Services Charitable Foundation waits for approval from Health Minister Maureen MacDonald.

The project began in 2007 when Medic, a group formed to address a lack of doctors in the area, approved the charitable foundation with a proposal for a health services centre that would be attached to Digby General Hospital.

The planned facility is designed to be 12,000 square feet and provide space for six health care professionals and room for other health providers such as diabetic clinics and more.

“ We have been making progress,” says Bonnie VanTassell, interim chair of the Health Services Centre Working Group.

"We presented our project to South West District Health Authority and they approved it. It’s gone to Halifax to the Department of Health and that’s where it stands now.” The charitable foundation has committed about $1 million towards the project’s capital cost of $1.8 million and up $100,000 to cover operational costs for the first five years.

“Town council will financially support us and we are still dialoguing with the municipality of Digby,” Van Tassell said. “I sincerely believe that they know this is a viable project.”

Municipality of Digby warden Jim Thurber said, “ We’ve sent them a letter saying we would be willing to contribute an amount, which sort of let it be known that we aren’t interested in the municipal government getting involved with operational costs once established.”

As the working group waits to hear from the province’s health minister, Van Tassell said the working group would like to put a shovel in the ground this fall if approved.

“We—the residents of Digby—feel we have a lot to offer. There’s good schools, good recreation, wonderful lifestyle and this is a viable service we feel this area can benefit from,” she said.

• Story by Leanne DeLong
• 29 Jul, 2010
• The Digby County Courier