Nova Scotia’s health minister has announced progress in ensuring newborns are receiving adequate healthcare, with around 20% of babies in the province requiring a special program for those without primary care providers. This “unattached” baby rate is almost three times higher than the overall percentage of Nova Scotians on the waitlist for a doctor or nurse practitioner, which stands at approximately 7.3%.
Health Minister Michelle Thompson stated that the unattached rate is decreasing consistently, acknowledging the challenges for families but assuring that care is accessible. The provincial health authority reported that 1,648 newborns were served under the unattached newborn program from April 2024 to March 2025, with an expansion of the program now in effect.
Previously, parents in the central zone had to journey to a Halifax clinic if their newborn lacked a primary care provider. The recent expansion has led to the establishment of five primary care clinics in the central zone, including locations in Halifax, Dartmouth, Windsor, and Sheet Harbour. Other zones in the province already had clinics prepared to accommodate newborns in need of medical attention.
Regular checkups during a baby’s first year are crucial for monitoring growth, nutrition, and vaccinations. Newborns are expected to see a provider within 72 hours of leaving the hospital. Kolten MacDonnell, the director of primary health care in the central zone, emphasized the importance of providing care closer to home through primary care clinics for unattached patients, including babies.
Healthcare professionals at hospitals will assess families to determine the need for services and ensure timely flagging for the 72-hour checkup at local sites. Infants are also placed on a waitlist to secure a primary care provider. Dr. Maria Alexiadis, the transformation lead for primary health care, assured that babies can continue utilizing clinic services until they are matched with a long-term healthcare provider, advising parents to contact 811 for any inquiries about the system.
Dr. Alexiadis mentioned that the matching process for babies usually happens swiftly. Minister Thompson encouraged parents not to worry about seeing different providers during clinic visits, emphasizing that the essential information concerning the baby’s health is stored for continuity of care.