Today (October 12) marks World Sight Day and Nova Scotia Health is celebrating the progress being made to improve access to cataract surgeries.

The medical device reprocessing (MDR) department at the Halifax Infirmary site of the QEII Health Sciences Centre, is tucked down a long corridor away from the noise and traffic of busy patient care areas. Despite its remote location, the space is open and bright with the sound of sterilizing equipment humming in the background.

Supporting new parents in breastfeeding or chestfeeding is an important part of the work of Public Health Nurses (PHNs) who serve as part of the Early Years team. Operating in all zones and communities across the province, PHNs work with people in their homes to offer support and guidance on all aspects of having a baby, including infant feeding.

As cases of COVID-19 increase in the community and in anticipation of circulation of influenza and other respiratory viruses in the coming weeks, Nova Scotia Health is making important changes to the protective measures currently in place.

Starting on Thursday, Oct. 12, 2023, medical masking will be required in the following settings:

Lauren Jefferson’s passion for her role as a frailty coordinator with Nova Scotia Health is evident when she shares how she is helping seniors to live healthier, fuller lives.

Atlantic Canada has the oldest population in the country and Nova Scotia Health’s Frailty and Eldercare Network (the Network) is taking steps to enhance how we support older adults in aging and living well, including introducing frailty coordinators across the province.

As a specialist physician in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, Dr. Brian Moses is aware of the shortages that are challenging rural communities’ access to care. Undeterred by these obstacles, Dr. Moses is channeling his love for rural medicine into support for recruitment initiatives that will enhance healthcare in his community.

Research has consistently shown that gender-affirming care saves lives by improving the mental health, well-being, and relationships of transgender and gender-diverse people. Such care allows those whose gender identity does not match the gender assigned at birth to receive health care that affirms who they are and helps them manage the social stressors associated with living in a society where they can feel invisible or excluded, and in many cases treated with hostility and violence.

A new toll-free line is being rolled out as part of an awareness campaign to help reduce no shows for diagnostic imaging appointments at Nova Scotia Health facilities.

Patients missed more than 22,000 scheduled diagnostic imaging appointments across the province in 2022, including MRI appointments, CT scans, ultrasounds and more. While in some cases, appointments are cancelled in time for other patients to use the existing appointment time, this often is not the case.

Nova Scotia Health’s Mental Health and Addictions Program is launching a new service that is helping patients at the Halifax Infirmary get better care.

Nova Scotia’s first inpatient Addiction Medicine Consult Service launched this week at the Halifax Infirmary, site of the QEII Health Sciences Centre. Through this new service, physicians providing care in the hospital’s inpatient units and emergency department can get advice and support from an addiction medicine specialist for patients with substance use concerns.