'Closed more than it's open': Protesters slam ER closures at North Sydney hospital

After finding out their hospital's emergency room would only be open16 days next month, North Sydney, N.S., residents let the provincial government know their feelings ata protest Saturday afternoon.

More than 100 protesters marched through townfrom the Irving MainwaytoMLA EddieOrell'sofficeto voice their anger about frequent ER closures at Northside General Hospital.

The March for Health Care,organized by the Save Our Services Group, included speakers who told of their experiences with health care.

Kathy Hayden, of North Sydney, joined the rallyin her motorized wheelchair. She said her multiple illnesses sometimes require emergency care atNorthsideGeneral.

"It's closed more than it's open. It's just craziness. And the Sydney hospital is not capable of covering North Sydney, Glace Bay, everybody. It's for Sydney. Every community should have their own hospital."

Dr. Harry Pollettis 76 years old and wants toretire soon from the Northside General pain clinic.

Pollett saidNova Scotia has to do more to attract new doctors because the cost of a medicaleducation and practising has skyrocketed.

"We do have to make the system more doctor friendly if you want more doctors," he told the crowd."If you don't do that, you're going to have continual closures of the ER's. You're going to have longer and longer waits."

• Changes to North Sydney ER won't help, critics say

Ronald Crowther, 28, has heart problems. He worries about the extra time it takes him to travel from North Sydney to Sydney when the local ER is closed.

"It takes only five minutes for me to get to the NorthsideGeneral, but 22 minutes to get to the Cape Breton Regional," he said. "An extra 17 minutes is something I might not have next time."