HALIFAX — Nova Scotia's opposition parties say the government needs to begin publicly reporting all nursing home deaths caused by violence and provide details of what can be learned from each incident.
Progressive Conservative Leader Jamie Baillie says a freedom of information request showing that five out of eight of deaths in homes weren't publicly reported since 2008 shows a need for greater transparency.
He says though the deaths may be due to simple pushing or shoving by other residents, they likely demonstrate the need for additional resources.
Baillie says the Liberal government needs to look at the concentration of residents in living areas and to include the issue of dementia-related aggression in a mental health strategy.
Dave Wilson, the NDP's health critic, says public reporting of deaths caused by resident-on-resident violence should occur regularly, just as the public is informed on wait times and other health issues.
The province's Health Department says it doesn't currently notify the public of the deaths due to violence, leaving that decision to police forces who may announce homicide investigations.
