The Premier of Nova Scotia is “out of touch” with the needs of Nova Scotians dealing with mental illness, according to a statement from the Progressive Conservatives on Tuesday.
Opposition leader Jamie Baillie questioned Premier Stephen McNeil Tuesday on a letter he said was sent this summer to patients on waiting lists that suggests the government wants to “close a number of referrals since many people have likely improved by waiting.”
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“You were referred for individual therapy at Mental Health and Addictions some time ago. Our waiting list is quite extensive and considerable time is spent offering appointments to persons who are no longer in need of services. We are contacting you at this time to determine whether you wish to remain on the waiting list,” reads the letter from the Mental Health and Addictions department in Amherst.
“It is our hope in sending this letter that we will be able to close a number of referrals since many people have likely improved by waiting.”
Baillie called the letter “downright disgraceful” in his statement, and demanded answers from the premier during Question Period at the Nova Scotia Legislature.
“Why is this government trying to get people to quit the waiting list for mental health and addictions services, instead of ensuring they get the help they need?” Baillie asked.
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The premier responded saying that “in no way” is the government trying to get patients to quit any waiting lists, and assured the Speaker of the House the government would look into the letter.
Baillie then questioned whether the premier was aware of the letter, insisting it does in fact ask patients to remove themselves from waiting lists.
“You would never send a letter to someone like that to someone who is waiting for hip surgery, or cancer surgery, Mr. Speaker. Would the premier condone sending letters like that to people who are waiting for a physical surgery like hip or cancer, hoping that they’ve improved by waiting?” Baillie said.
“I agree with the honourable member that if indeed that letter was sent out, it should not have been sent out. I told him in my first answer that I would look and get to the bottom of this, Mr. Speaker, and I will report back to him,” McNeil said in his second response.
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Baillie went on to ask that the premier investigate whether similar letters had gone out to those on waiting lists in other parts of the province.
McNeil said, again, he would look into the issue.
Read the letter sent to waiting list members from Mental Health and Addictions:
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