BILL NO. 376
(as introduced)
1st Session, 64th General Assembly
Nova Scotia
2 Charles III, 2023
Private Member's Bill
Health Authorities Act
(amended)
Elizabeth Smith-McCrossin
Cumberland North
First Reading: October 25, 2023
Second Reading:
Third Reading:
Explanatory Notes
Clause 1 requires the Minister of Health and Wellness to appoint new directors to the board of directors of a health authority within one year of dismissing a previous board.
Clause 2 requires
(a) an administrator acting in place of a board of directors to appoint a quality improvement and safety committee if one has not been appointed by the board; and
(b) a quality improvement and safety committee to take actions to uphold standards of care and create and administer a plan to ensure patients' concerns are responded to.
(a) requires health authorities to collaborate with the governing bodies responsible for health services in New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island when preparing their health-services business plans; and
(b) sets out certain requirements for a health-services business plan.
Clause 4 sets out eligibility requirements for the appointment of the Chief Executive Officer of the provincial health authority.
(a) require each regional hospital to be governed by a board of directors;
(b) set out the required membership and objects for each board; and
(c) list the regional hospitals in a new Schedule.
An Act to Amend Chapter 32
of the Acts of 2014,
the Health Authorities Act
Be it enacted by the Governor and Assembly as follows:
1 Section 10 of Chapter 32 of the Acts of 2014, the Health Authorities Act, is amended by adding immediately after subsection (5) the following subsection:
- (5A) Notwithstanding subsection (5), where the Minister dismisses all of the directors of a health authority, the Minister shall appoint new directors to the board within one year of dismissing the previous board.
2 (1) Section 39 of Chapter 32 is amended by adding immediately after subsection (1) the following subsection:
- (1A) Where an administrator is acting in place of a board under subsection 10(2) and no quality improvement and safety committee has been appointed under subsection (1), the administrator shall appoint the quality improvement and safety committee.
(2) Clause 39(3)(b) of Chapter 32 is amended by
(a) striking out "and" in the second line and substituting a comma; and
(b) adding "and take actions to uphold standards of care to achieve excellence in the delivery of health services" immediately after "resources" in the third line.
(3) Subsection 39(3) of Chapter 32 is amended by adding immediately after clause (b) the following clause:
- (ba) create and administer a plan to ensure each patient's concerns are responded to within 24 hours, and that those responses are effectively evaluated;
3 (1) Section 40 of Chapter 32 is amended by adding immediately after subsection (2) the following subsection:
- (2A) In preparing their health-services business plans under subsection (1), the health authorities shall collaborate with the governing bodies responsible for health services in New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island to ensure all principles of the Canada Health Act are upheld, including portability between provinces.
(2) Subsection 40(5) of Chapter 32 is repealed and the following subsection substituted:
- (5) A health-services business plan must
(a) be prepared with patients' and families' best interests in mind, considering proximity between health services and travel distances for patients and families;
(b) conform with the priorities and policy directions described in the provincial health plan; and
4 Section 56 of Chapter 32 is amended by adding immediately after subsection (2) the following subsection:
- (3) A person is only eligible for appointment under subsection (1) or (2) if the person has
(a) obtained a degree or qualification relating to a health profession from a recognized school, college or university; and
(b) at least six years of experience in a health-care profession.
5 Chapter 32 is further amended by adding immediately after Section 60 the following Section:
- 60A (1) In this Section, "local board" means the board of directors for a regional hospital.
(2) Each regional hospital listed in the Schedule to this Act shall be managed by a local board.
(3) Each local board shall be composed of not more than nine members and must include
(a) the hospital's chief of medical staff;
(b) the hospital's director of nursing;
(c) the chief executive officer of a local foundation;
(d) the chair of a community health board; and
(e) representatives from the public who have diverse backgrounds and live in the area served by the hospital.
(4) The objects of a local board are to oversee the hospital's management and provide advice to a health authority on
(a) the hospital's clinical services plan;
(b) hospital staff recruitment and retention; and
(c) how the hospital may adhere to provincial health policies and standards.
6 Chapter 32 is further amended by adding immediately after Section 155 the following Schedule:
Colchester East Hants Health Centre
Cumberland Regional Health Care Centre
Queen Elizabeth II Health Sciences Centre
St. Martha's Regional Hospital
This page and its contents published by the Office of the Legislative Counsel, Nova Scotia House of Assembly, and © 2023 Crown in right of Nova Scotia. Created October 25, 2023. Send comments to legc.office@novascotia.ca.
