Today, we introduce a passionate practice facilitator in the Central Zone, Yuehan Zhou. She has been with Nova Scotia Health since 2021. Zhou previously worked in Ontario and has a degree in Healthcare Management, bringing a lot of valuable experience to her job.

PUGWASH, N.S. – The telephone lines at North Cumberland Health Care Centre (NCHCC) are temporarily out of service. Callers will receive a busy signal. 

This interruption is not impacting Virtual Urgent Care which is available onsite daily from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. for anyone with mild to moderate health concerns. Please note: NCHCC's Collaborative Emergency Centre is closed Tuesday, Jan. 28 however Virtual Urgent Care is available.

Nova Scotia Health’s mobile primary care clinic has these upcoming clinic dates:

Shelburne Family Practice  

1606 Lake Road, Shelburne  

Saturday, February 1, 2025, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Saturday, February 8, 2025, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Saturday, February 15, 2025, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Barrington Community Health Clinic

3695 Highway #3, Barrington Passage

Saturday, February 22 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Nova Scotia Health Public Health is now accepting Nurse-Family Partnership (NFP) program referrals for clients in Northern and Western zones after having launched the program in Eastern Zone a little under a year ago.

The program now provides greater access to enhanced prenatal and postnatal support for more Nova Scotian families.

Nova Scotia Health’s new Dignity of Risk Program, the first of its kind in Canada, will help older adults living with frailty and dementia maintain their independence.

The Dignity of Risk Program is overseen by Nova Scotia Health's Frailty and Elder Care Network. It aims to educate healthcare teams, patients, caregivers, families and other essential care partners about balancing a person’s right to take reasonable risks, such as walking, even if unsteady, that align with their preferences, dignity and values with support and strategies to manage those risks.

Halifax - Nova Scotia Health’s Geriatric Medicine Clinic has expanded its services from two locations to three with a new location on the Dartmouth General Hospital campus.

This expansion will increase access to services in more rural communities in Central Zone and is anticipated to help older adults remain at home, reduce emergency department visits, and improve the quality of life of people and their families.

National Non-Smoking Week, January 20-27, 2025, is a time to reflect on the progress we’ve made in reducing tobacco use and renew our commitment to creating a healthier, smoke-free future for all Canadians. 

Smoking is the number one cause of lung cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Lung Cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths in Nova Scotia; every year, about 1,000 Nova Scotians are diagnosed and 700 die of the disease. COPD affects 13% or 86,000 Nova Scotians.

Nova Scotia Health is fine-tuning some of the text message and YourHealthNS appointment reminder features to eliminate confusion and improve the overall patient experience.

Last week, the text message appointment reminder service was paused after it was discovered a small number of patients had incorrect times included in their reminder notifications.

Two decades ago, Wendy Wierstra embarked on a meaningful journey as a care coordinator with Nova Scotia Health Continuing Care. Since then, she has been a beacon of support and compassion, dedicated to enhancing the lives of those she serves.

Wendy helps individuals of all ages, as well as their families and caregivers, to make informed decisions about available services to assist them to remain as independent as possible in the place they call home. This could mean engaging home or community care services or providing transition support to long-term care for older adults.