New Emergency Department, Dialysis Unit for Cumberland County Hospital

People in Cumberland County will have improved access to emergency and dialysis healthcare closer to home with a redevelopment project at the regional hospital.

The Province is building a new, larger emergency department and a permanent 12-station renal dialysis unit at the Cumberland Regional Health Care Centre near Amherst.

“We’re responding to the current and future needs of healthcare in the region by strengthening emergency healthcare and lifesaving dialysis treatment,” said Natural Resources Minister Tory Rushton, MLA for Cumberland South, on behalf of Health and Wellness Minister Michelle Thompson. “Nova Scotians deserve to receive care in modern facilities in their communities – more care, faster and closer to home.”

The new emergency department will be almost twice the size of the current one and have its own entrance. Its design will reduce wait times by improving patient intake and flow, and it will provide a modern workplace for healthcare providers.

The new, permanent 12-station dialysis unit will replace the current temporary five-station unit. The new unit and a modular dialysis unit announced in September for All Saints Hospital in Springhill will eliminate the need for dialysis patients from Cumberland County to travel long distances for treatment.

Final design work will start soon, and several tender packages will be issued, with the first in early 2025. Site preparation will start this winter, and construction is expected to begin in the spring. The entire project is expected to be completed before the end of 2027.

Quotes:

“As an emergency physician, I see first-hand how essential a well-designed space is to provide timely, high-quality care. The new emergency department will transform how we care for our community – improving patient flow, enhancing privacy and creating a better environment for managing complex cases. We’ll be able to give people the care they need more efficiently and with greater comfort. It’s a meaningful step forward for our patients, their families and our entire team.”
— Dr. Brittney MacDougall, site specialty lead for emergency medicine, Cumberland Regional Health Care Centre

“The new hemodialysis unit at Cumberland Regional Health Care Centre will increase the number of dialysis patients who can access treatment in this part of the province. By being attached to the hospital, the unit also allows admitted patients to continue their dialysis. This means more care, closer to home – keeping patients in their community and near the support of family and friends.”
— Dr. Steven Soroka, Senior Medical Director, Nova Scotia Health Renal Program

Quick Facts:

• the new emergency department will be about 2,973 square metres (32,000 square feet), with capacity to serve more than 23,000 patients annually
• when operational, the permanent and modular dialysis units in Cumberland County will serve up to 64 patients

Additional Resources:

News Release – Province to Build Three New Dialysis Units: https://news.novascotia.ca/en/2024/09/25/province-build-three-new-dialysis-units