by Regional councillors on the Northside have joined those speaking out against planned changes to how blood is collected at the Northside General Hospital.
The Cape Breton District Health Authority plans move to a point-of-care testing system for the collection of blood and other specimens over the next year.
The move involves consolidating the analyzing of samples at the Regional Hospital in Sydney.
Councillor Clarence Prince says people are still concerned that the Cape Breton District Health Authority plans to turn the Northside General into a long-term care facility.
He says, even though the District denies the rumour, other changes at the hospital such as the loss of the intermediate care unit and emergency department closures continue to raise doubts.
Prince is calling for a public forum with the provincial health minister so that people can ask questions and express their concerns.
Councillor Charlie Keagan says more money should be put into doctor recruitment to prevent closures of the hospital’s Emergency Department.
Mae Rowe says a lot of people in her District rely on the Northside General and echoes Councillor Prince’s call for a public meeting with provincial health officials.