Emergency rooms across the province were closed for more than 17,000 hours in the last fiscal year. (CBC)

The Nova Scotia government says despite the fact that emergency rooms across the province were closed for more than 17,000 hours in the last fiscal year, it represents a dramatic drop in closure hours.

Dave Wilson, the provincial Minister of Health and Wellness, said the latest numbers mark the third year in a row of a decline in emergency room closures.

In six communities where the province has opened collaborative emergency centres — known as CECs — the situation is even better, said Wilson.

"In Parrsboro and Springhill, for example, we see a 93 per cent and a 97 per cent decrease in the closures," he told reporters on Wednesday.

The Annual Accountability Report on Emergency Departments, released Wednesday, said emergency rooms in the province's nine district health authorities and the IWK Health Centre were closed for a total of 17,716.5 hours between April 2011 and March 2012.

That number is down more than 1,200 hours from the previous report, which translates to a 6.4 per cent decrease, according to the provincial government.

The breakdown of closures between April 2011 and March 2012:

• DHA 1 (South Shore Health) - 3,553.5 hours.
• DHA 2 (South West Health) - 240 hours.
• DHA 3 (Annapolis Valley Health Authority) - 332 hours.
• DHA 4 (Colchester East Hants Health Authority) - 2,326 hours.
• DHA 5 (Cumberland Health Authority) - 2,786 hours.
• DHA 6 (Pictou County Health Authority) - 9 hours.
• DHA 7 (Guysborough Antigonish Strait Health Authority) - 0 hours.
• DHA 8 (Cape Breton District Health Authority) - 4,555 hours.
• DHA 9 (Capital District Health Authority) - 3,915 hours.
• IWK Health Centre - 0 hours.

The opposition parties attacked the fact the NDP government still hadn't been able to keep emergency departments open around the clock — something they promised in the 2009 provincial election.

"Emergency rooms are closing just as fast as they were a year ago and the year before," said Liberal Leader Stephen McNeil.

Critics said the collaborative emergency centres, recommended by a doctor who was asked to examine Nova Scotia's troubled emergency departments, are more about giving political cover to the government.

"It's giving different care and it's still out on whether it's better care yet," said Chris d'Entremont, the Progressive Conservative health critic.

Two years ago, Dr. John Ross recommended 14 hospitals in Nova Scotia should look at a collaborative practice model, which would put doctors, nurses, nurse practitioners and paramedics, all under one roof.

The province has since opened six new collaborative emergency centres to supplement the traditional emergency departments.

The report said the six communities — Annapolis Royal, Musquodoboit Harbour, Parrsboro, Pugwash, Springhill and Tatamagouche — with 24-hour clinics had more regular access to emergency health care.

Nova Scotia plans to open at least six more collaborative emergency centres across the province.