The Sisters of St. Martha of Antigonish says they are saddened that the province decided not to continue on with a religious sponsor for the only Catholic hospital in Nova Scotia.
The agreement ends September 30 between St. Martha’s Regional Hospital and Nova Scotia after having been in place since for 30 years.
In a statement posted online, the congregation says they founded St. Martha’s in 1906 but in 1996 ownership was transferred to the government.
“At that time people from the town and county came to the Sisters of St. Martha and asked us to help oversee that the Mission would continue,” says the statement.
A Mission Assurance Agreement was then between the congregation, the hospital and the health authority.
More than a year ago, the Sisters of St. Martha says they “did not see ourselves” continuing as the sponsor once the agreement needed to be renewed and found a replacement.
The province, however, decided to go in a different direction and have the hospital’s services and policies reflect every other hospital.
“We are proud of the contributions of St. Martha Regional Hospital to the local and broader community over these 120 years, and particularly the last 30 years,” says the statement.
They add, they hope the “DNA” of the Mission will live on through this new structure.
