The interim CEO of Nova Scotia Health is staying on, for now.

Karen Oldfield’s contract was extended on March 31, as the search for a permanent hire begins.

Oldfield has been in the role since 2021, when Premier Tim Houston and his new PC government fired the previous CEO and health board.

Health minister Michelle Thompson says they want to make sure there’s a good transition period.

“This is just the normal course of things. We will go out to a search, and Ms. Oldfield will remain for the next foreseeable bit,” said Thompson.

Thompson said the extension would be over ‘several months,’ as they search for the next CEO.

“We’ll be looking at different skill sets, it’s all human resources work. I don’t think we want to pre-determine what people’s experiences have been. Ms. Oldfield has been an incredible CEO and has accomplished a lot of incredible things during her time here.”

Meanwhile, NDP leader Claudia Chender says the fact Oldfield is still in the role is concerning.

“The Nova Scotia Health Authority needs to go back to being what it had always been, and running an independent, non-partisan healthcare system,” said Chender.

She says a permanent CEO is needed with healthcare credentials, that is not a Tory-partisan.