Nova Scotia's doctor waitlist tops 50,000

Nova Scotia's waitlist for family doctors has hit more than 50,000, according to the latest data from the Nova Scotia Health Authority.

This increase comes after a June 1 announcement from the province that 319 family doctors have taken on a combined 2,893 new patients through the Patient Attachment Incentive Trust.

The $6.4-millionprogram gives doctors a one-time payment of $150 for every new patient they take on.

Ups and down

Statistics show an increase of 4.9 per cent in the number of people waiting for a family practice 47,669 on May 1 to 50,024 on June 1.

The area with the largest increase is the western zone, which includes the Annapolis Valley, South West Nova and the South Shore, where 14,069 people are waiting.

The eastern zone, including Cape Breton, Antigonish and Guysborough,is the only area with a decrease. There were2,993 people waitingon May 1, but 2,787 by the end of the month.

The Nova Scotia Health Authority began calling people on the Need a Family Practice Registry in November 2017 when the waitlistfor a family practice was 29,965.