Who We Are and What We Do

The Guysborough Antigonish Strait Health Authority (GASHA) is one of nine district health authorities established by the Nova Scotia Department of Health on January 1st 2001, following the proclamation of Bill 34, the Health Authorities Act. Replacing the Regional Health Board system, the District Health Authorities were created to bring health care decision-making closer to the community level and improve accountability for health care decisions.

Guided by a volunteer Board of Directors, the Guysborough Antigonish Strait Health Authority's mandate is to govern, manage, plan, monitor, evaluate and deliver health services and programs according to the health care needs of our district. Key to GASHA’s mandate is the development and implementation of annual business plans which incorporate health plans developed by our three local Community Health Boards.

GASHA is responsible for delivering a wide range of health services and programs to over 47,000 residents of Antigonish Town and County, Guysborough County, Richmond County and the southern portion of Inverness County. Over 700 employees and 61 medical staff work within GASHA to deliver quality healthcare to residents in our district.

Five hospitals and two programs fall within the GASHA district. The five hospitals are:

1. St. Martha's Regional Hospital, Antigonish
2. Strait Richmond Hospital, Cleveland, Richmond County
3. Eastern Memorial Hospital, Canso, Guysborough County
4. Guysborough Memorial Hospital, Guysborough
5. St. Mary's Memorial Hospital, Sherbrooke, Guysborough County

The two programs are:

1. Public Health Services (shared with the Cape Breton District Health Authority)
2. Addiction Services (shared with the Cape Breton District Health Authority)