Hours in the ER, years on a wait list: Nova Scotia women struggle to get timely health care

Advertisement 1 This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Breadcrumb Trail Links HomeAtlantic CanadaNewsNova ScotiaHalifax Hours in the ER, years on a wait list: Nova Scotia women struggle to get timely health care NDP says provincial government needs to create a plan to lower wait times and fewer emergency department closures Author of the article: By Emma Breton Published Sep 16, 2026 5 minute read Dartmouth's Donna Manning answers questions from reporters about her negative experience during a recent visit to the emergency department during an NDP press conference at Province House on Wednesday. PHOTO BY RYAN TAPLIN /The Chronicle Herald Article content Donna Manning spent 16 hours waiting to see a doctor in an emergency department. Article content She was pushed to go by loved ones concerned about her health. She started at the emergency department at the Cobequid Community Health Centre in Lower Sackville but was turned away after an hour at 3 p.m., as the site closes at midnight and was at capacity for the day. Article content Article content Manning was directed to the Dartmouth General Hospital and proceeded to wait there all night and into the next day. Article content Article content At about 5 a.m., she was set to sign paperwork to leave but started experiencing shooting pains through her abdomen. Article content “I realized that I couldn’t leave, that I had to stay,” Manning told reporters at an NDP news conference at Province House, Wednesday. Article content “And I knew that the loved ones that had asked me to please go would be upset with me if I left. So, I gritted my teeth and I stayed.” Article content When she finally saw a doctor, she didn’t receive any treatment. Article content “My total time with the doctor was no more than three minutes. I was told to come back in two weeks if I was still experiencing symptoms and sent on my way,” said Manning. Article content “The first thought that went running through my head was ‘Fat chance; if I still have symptoms in two weeks, then I’ll just have symptoms in two weeks because I’m not putting myself through this again.'” Article content An action plan with measurable targets is needed, says NDP Article content At the news conference, NDP Leader Claudia Chender said the province needs to create a clear action plan to lower wait times. Article content Article content She said wait times in Nova Scotia emergency rooms have risen by 40 per…