The Unified Health Community Triage Centre in Halifax doesn’t receive funding from the province but was launched as a pilot project to speed up waits for non-emergency medical care and to ease the strain on ERs. It opened in August and offers the services of a nurse practitioner and services such as massage therapy, mental-health counselling, chiropractor and osteopathy. It doesn’t have a medical doctor on-site. The clinic's services aren’t covered under the province's public health system, but it isn't illegal for nurse practitioners in N.S. to charge a fee for services. There’s a $35 charge for a 15-minute appointment with a nurse practitioner. Other services are separate charges paid by the patient or private health insurance. Doctors Nova Scotia believes the clinic is proof of a troubled public healthcare system.
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