A transitional health facility in the HRM has saved more than 18,000 hospital bed days.
The West Bedford Transitional Health building on Hogan Court was converted from an unfinished hotel by the province in 2024.
It’s for adults who no longer need acute care, but are not ready to return home.
Health officials answered questions at a Standing Committee on Public Accounts hearing Wednesday.
The total spent on the facility is $114 million, that includes an expansion this spring.
Deputy Health minister Dana MacKenzie said the facility has helped reduce hospital stays.
“And it boosts the number of patients going home with proper support. It’s even diverted the number of people going towards long-term care, and helping them to stay home,” said MacKenzie.
Nova Scotia Health interim president and CEO Karen Oldfield says they’re opening another 110 beds this spring.
“This facility enables us to move people through the healthcare system, in, through and out. That in my opinion has been one of the biggest changes in the system over the last two-to-three years,” said Oldfield.
Auditor General, Opposition MLAs voiced concerns
In 2024, Nova Scotia Auditor General Kim Adair criticized the project in a report.
She called it a ‘highly unusual transaction’ by the province, noting the facility didn’t have an adequate market assessment.
“The province spent $34.5 million for the unfinished hotel, and quickly approved a $15 million renovation budget without detailed cost estimates,” said Adair.
She made six recommendations in the report, including establishing formal guidelines for approving the acquisition of land and existing buildings.
Opposition MLAs also say wait times and occupancy rates at hospitals have not changed.
In response, Oldfield said NS Health has a 108 percent occupancy rate, a perfect system would have 85 percent, but that’s not a reachable goal.
