Published Apr 23, 2025 • Last updated 12 hours ago • 3 minute readThe Yarmouth Regional Hospital. TINA COMEAU Photo by Tina Comeau /Tina ComeauThe long-awaited construction of a new emergency department at Yarmouth Regional Hospital is finally getting underway.The province says the project is aimed at providing better access to emergency health care for people in Yarmouth, Shelburne and Digby counties by addressing the many shortfalls of the existing cramped, outdated, and poorly laid-out existing emergency department. Construction was slated to begin as the month of April winds up.THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY.Subscribe now to access this story and more:Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsSUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES.Subscribe or sign in to your account to continue your reading experience.Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsRegister to unlock more articles.Create an account or sign in to continue your reading experience.Access additional stories every monthShare your thoughts and join the conversation in our commenting communityGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorArticle contentIn an April 23 media release the province said construction would be starting “next week.”The new facility is scheduled to open in 2027.“The new facility will have twice the capacity of the current department – able to care for 30 people at a time, up from the current 14. It will also have space for four ambulances, up from two,” reads a provincial media release.A new and larger emergency department was announced many years ago – first in 2020 by the Stephen McNeil Liberal government and then later confirmed and committed to by the Tim Houston PC government. The Houston government began working on the planning and design phase in 2022, investing $2.5 million in that part of the project.Meanwhile, a construction start has been eagerly anticipated.The Houston government put the tender out for the project last year. PCL Constructors Canada Inc. was awarded the construction tender through a competitive process. The tender is valued at $77.8 million. The province says the total cost of the project will be released once it is complete.Article contentRead More ‘Bursting at the seams’: Continued commitment to new emergency department at Yarmouth hospital welcome news Timeline update announced in 2024 for new emergency department at Yarmouth hospital The departments of Health and Wellness and Public Works say during construction patients will be able to access all hospital services as usual. As work proceeds, there will be some adjustments to things such as parking and patient drop-offs and pickups, but any disruptions will be minimized the province says.In a previous announcement regarding the project, it was stated the proposed site of the new emergency department, which will be an addition connected to the hospital, would be in the parking lot area in front of the Dalhousie School of Nursing building. Alternate parking was also said to be part of the plan.“Our emergency department team, our patients and our community have been looking forward to work getting started on the Yarmouth Regional Hospital emergency department redevelopment,” said Dr. Joe Gillis, the site medical lead at the Yarmouth Regional Hospital, in a media release.Article content“We will be excited to see boots on the ground and work happening. We are confident it will ultimately allow for better care in a more spacious, modern environment, resulting in an enhanced patient and provider experience,” Dr. Gillis said. “Bring it on.”Some of the other features of the new emergency department will include:• two triage spaces• a resuscitation/trauma area• two virtual-care exam rooms and a dedicated kids’ waiting area• additional• mental health facilities• a dedicated ear-nose-throat exam room.“Investing in healthcare infrastructure is how we support the health-care needs of our growing population and recruit and retain the best and brightest healthcare professionals to our communities,” said Yarmouth MLA Nick Hilton, on behalf of Public Works Minister Fred Tilley, in a media release. “A new, modern and larger emergency department will improve care for Nova Scotians in Yarmouth, Shelburne and Digby counties.”Article content
Construction of new, larger emergency departmentat Yarmouth Regional Hospital getting underway
