I was referred to Dr. Holness in 2006 after suffering a ruptured lumbar disk. I had been in agony for 6 months while waiting to hear from a referral to an orthopaedic surgeon, but after finding out the wait would be 18+months to see one, my GP decided to try Neuro. I had a CT scan, and within a week had a call from Dr. Holness's office, and an appt. the next week. After the initial consult, Dr. H. had me in for MRI within 2 weeks, and I was booked for surgery 3 weeks later. I was treated with nothing but respect by Dr. Holness and his team. They were very open to questions and often used humor to lighten the mood. I woke up in recovery with surgical pain, but the debilitating pain down my leg that had been tormenting me for months was completely gone. I say he's entitled to having a God complex, for this man certainly gave me back my life. He treated me with care, warmth, and professionalism. My surgery was a complete success; today my back is better than ever!

Submitted Nov. 1, 2009

Dr. Holness saved my life. I will be forever grateful. My name is Krystal Boyd and I had an AVM that he fixed along wih his team.It was a very risky surgery with me either dying or being partially paralyzed on my left side. I am o.k. I have full use of everything.I have to take seizure meds and deal with anxiety. He is an amazing,caring,giving man. We are sooo blessed to have him here.Dr. Holness if you ever read this, thank you is just not enough..but Thank You,thank you. it's been 10 years and I just found this site. I am dealing with anxiety and typed in AVM and found this and am glad. I still have AURAS(small seizures) but function in life well. He is a man with a great gift. Love Krystal xoxox

Submitted Aug. 16, 2009

Holness performed neurosurgery on my spinal area in 1990. He was very anxious to cut me open as my rare condition would look good on his resume (my opinion. He did not inform me that I could end up with significant decreased sensation on the right side of my body, which I did. He did not inform me that I could become impotent, which I did. His reasoning was a "trauma" had happened. When i went to see him about these problems he refused to see me and referred me to my neurologist. I had surgery in 2007. When they referred to my 1990 operation I was contacted by Holness's office for a "follow up" appointment. A regular follow up after 17.5 years? I passed. I saw him at a grocery store last month and was tempted to give him a piece of my mind but didn't. He didn't care back then so why should he care now. Biggest mistake I've ever made when I conceeded to be oeprated on by this man.

Submitted Aug. 3, 2009

My experience with Dr. Holness has been superb - went out of his way to help me and relieve the pain. He is a fantastic physician and am greatful and thankful to have dealt with him!!!

Submitted April 7, 2009

I waited two years for any neck surgery appointed and felt blessed that Dr. Holness agreed to see me and do my surgery. Upon arrival at the hospital, I was lied to about my surgery time(7:30 a.m.), treated poorly by day surgery staff who called someone else up in front of me to give them my surgery time before I got to talk to the doctor about it, my other health concerns (diabetes) was not consided an important enough factor when booking my surgery time( a diabetic should not fast 12 to 14 hours prior to surgery), and the doctor did not realize he had not gone over the total procedure of the surgery with me even though I told this info to his secretary prior to booking the surgery. I had to ask the day surgery nurse the appropiate name of my surgery so I could look up info about it on the internet. Anyway, I cancelled the surgery because they made my heart and head feel verbally and mentally wounded. No one should feel or be treated this way!! I didn't even receive a "we are sorry."

Submitted Nov. 7, 2008

i am from northern cape breton and this great man travelled fr hlfx to sydney to consult with me. this was above and beyond care from a dr. my herniated disk made a trip to hlfx very painful so the dr came from hlfx to my nearest centre in sydney. saving me the trip to hlfx. thanks again and to all whom are in his care. be confidant and you are certainly being looked at by one of the best.

Submitted Feb. 17, 2008

This doctor did up a medical report claiming full range of motion on my neck with out performing the tests and made a wrong assessment on my neck and when questioned based on a MRI by family doctor. This doctor claimed he was to close to his patient and refused to give him a comment based on the MRI evidence. Clearly has a god complex.

Submitted Dec. 9, 2007

By luck I was referred to Dr. Holness for surgery to repair a herniated disc in my lower spine. I was waiting for a consult with an ortho surgeon in Halifax and symptoms took a turn for the worse and ended up in Dr. Holness's capable hands within a week. He is one of the most genuine, kind, professional persons I have ever dealt with in the entire Health Care system. It is obvious he is well respected by his peers and support staff, which is something that speaks volumes than any patient could write here. They are the folks dealing with him on a daily basis. Dr. Holness made the whole experience of having back surgery a lot less stressful...I felt assured that I was being cared for by the BEST.

Submitted Nov. 20, 2007

This Doctor was the first person to tell me that my AVM was operable, unfortunately before he could do anything I suffered a Hemmoragic Stroke. When I had recovered sufficently, plans to operate proceeded. A number of embollizations had to be done inorder to cut off the blood supply to the AVM however I was only able to have two done here and the second was cut short as the catheters were not long enough. Dr. Holness had discussed my case with a former student of his who is now chief of neurosurgery in London Ont. Arrangements were made for me to go there for the other 8 embollizations I needed and the subsequent surgery. After four months it was complete and I was able to return home. I might not be alive today were it not for the efforts of this very knowlegable and kind man

Submitted April 7, 2007

Saw this Dr.years ago after an accident...he was very helpful....after many trips to halifax I thought maybe I should see someone in Sydney(yeah right)This Sydney neurosugeon would have hacked me open for the fun of it.Dr. Holness saved me from that loon .From that point the travelling expenses to Halifax were well worth it.I might add ,Dr. Holness was a little more than shocked when I told him of my experience with Dr ."Cut-her-open-I-need-money"I checked to see if I could rate him but he wasn't listed ,I think he may have retired anyway....thank Gawd!!!

Submitted March 25, 2007