43% of Nova Scotians Satisfied with Health Care

MQO Research spoke with 400 residents of Nova Scotia to understand their opinions about health care in the province.

Four-in-ten residents are either very or somewhat satisfied with the health care system in Nova Scotia.

We surveyed people across Atlantic Canada: Nova Scotia had the lowest level of satisfaction at 43%, followed by Newfoundland and Labrador at 50%, and New Brunswick and PEI were tied for top spot at 58%.

“People clearly believe there are challenges facing the health care system in Nova Scotia,” said Stephen Moore, Vice President at MQO. “Satisfaction is highest in Halifax and lowest in Cape Breton.”

MQO also explored satisfaction with different aspects of the health care system. We combined those who are very and somewhat satisfied with each of the following elements of the health care system. Here’s what we found:

  • 59 percent are satisfied with access to home care
  • 59 percent are satisfied with access to an emergency room
  • 53 percent are satisfied with access to a family doctor
  • 49 percent are satisfied with access to a specialist
  • 42 percent are satisfied with access to long-term care

“Given the media attention paid to family doctors and emergency rooms, these numbers will likely surprise some people,” said Moore.

The Atlantic Matters poll was conducted by telephone from July 16th to July 26th and included 400 randomly selected eligible voters from across the province. The margin of error for the total sample is +/- 4.9 percentage points 19 times out of 20.

About MQO Research

MQO Research is one of Atlantic Canada’s leading market research firms, providing research insights to clients throughout the region and beyond. Our team includes experts in quantitative and qualitative methodologies and program evaluation. MQO subscribes to the highest standards of information gathering and research ethics in the industry in Canada.

For more information on Atlantic Matters or MQO Research, contact:

Tracey Stephenson
[email protected]
Phone: 506-852-7281
Cell: 506-850-8077