Home / Health / Nova Scotia Hospital Ends Catholic Sponsorship
Nova Scotia Hospital Ends Catholic Sponsorship
7 Mar
Summary
- St. Martha's Regional Hospital will conclude its sponsorship role.
- The province will not seek a new religious sponsor.
- Hospital services will align with other provincial facilities.
St. Martha's Regional Hospital, the only Catholic hospital in Nova Scotia, will cease its religious sponsorship on September 30, 2026. The Congregation of the Sisters of St. Martha, which established the Antigonish-based hospital in 1906, will conclude its long-standing role.
The province has announced it will not pursue a new religious sponsor for the hospital. Following the conclusion of the current agreement, St. Martha's services and policies are expected to align more closely with those of other hospitals throughout Nova Scotia.
Historically, St. Martha's, a publicly funded facility, was exempt from offering certain procedures like abortion and medically assisted dying due to its religious affiliation. However, in 2019, the hospital revised its policy to include medically assisted dying services.
The Sisters have been commended for their extensive legacy in shaping healthcare in Antigonish and across the province over their 120 years of service, significantly impacting healthcare delivery and professional training.
