Bayside may get new beds by summer

Premier MacDonald and Health Minister Chris d'Entremont made the announcement Feb. 1, during which they also outlined where 832 new long-term-care beds will be located in the province as part of Nova Scotia's Continuing Care Strategy.

Premier MacDonald also made the announcement earlier this year in Barrington. This would bring the total number of long-term beds to about 60.

Shaun Hatfield, chair of the Municipality of Barrington’s continuing care steering committee, which has been lobbying the government for the expansion, said he is pleased the community has been able to fulfill a promise he made to a resident forced to live in a home outside his community.

“I made a promise to a dying man his pain wouldn’t be wasted and we would get something down here for seniors in Western Nova Scotia.”

The nursing home administrator wasn’t available at deadline.

Hatfield said his discussions with provincial Health Minister Chris d’Entremont have led him to believe, “Barrington is in a preferred position in terms of beds. He anticipated the earth would be moving out at Bayside as early as summer. It would be inconceivable and highly unacceptable to go beyond 2008.”

Hatfield even received this answer on a radio talk show, he said. He added Bayside is exempt from the “Request for Proposals” process the majority of communities will need to go through.

Hatfield said committee members and residents should be congratulated for never giving up, especially since, 30 years ago, the area was promised 50 beds.

He added the municipality and Town of Clark’s Harbour helped greatly as well by offering $250,000 and $30,000 respectively towards the expansion.

“It’s been a long arduous journey. We’ve been lobbying hard as a community.”

Hatfield said upwards of 75 seniors are in “far-flung nursing homes” throughout the province.

Also announced was the replacement of nine long-term-care facilities in the province, the fast-tracking of 40 beds in the Capital Health District and six beds for those with acquired brain injuries.