The number of people dying in Nova Scotian emergency rooms was up last year.
Data from Nova Scotia Health shows there were 666 deaths in 2023, up 19 percent from the year before.
Health Minister Michelle Thompson says each number represents a person, and she’s mindful of that.
She says population growth means more people are using the ER.
“And we know that when people come to an emergency department, particularly people with higher acuity, are often grievously ill or injured, so the risk of death is higher in those environments,” said Thompson.
She notes while the raw number of deaths and visits are up, percentages have stayed around the same.
Thompson says she doesn’t want people to be afraid to go to emergency rooms, as workers are highly skilled and experienced.
She adds the government will continue to make investments to improve the healthcare system.
