Headlines are created from “stunning” declarations such as this, when in reality, citizens in the province have been struggling to find a family doctor and experience long wait times for specialist services. Clearly the headlines and the numbers alone are not telling the whole story.

Let us go to the source of the numbers in this report and dissect the methods used to get these numbers.

We are familiar with the call for cuts to health-care funding by provincial and federal governments.

During 2003-2009, the real average growth rate per capita for health spending in Canada was 3.15 per cent, as per OECD health data. That rise was faster than the nation’s economic growth.

Primary care, secondary care, tertiary care, quaternary care: these labels group our available health services, to match investigations and treatments with the severity and complexity of health conditions.

Primary care refers to prevention and promotion activities, care by family doctors, nurse practitioners, family practice nurses, pharmacists, physiotherapists and others.

At present, Nova Scotia Health Authority is well aware of the devastating loss of family doctors and specialists from Cape Breton, since 2012, that has left thousands without access to primary care services.

A recent count showed 30 physicians have left since the summer and 60 physician positions are under threat.

What people universally expect is to have access to doctors, pharmacists, mental health and physical therapists when they feel ill or have been injured.

They expect tests will be done, diagnoses made, treatment started and that they will return to good health.