New Brunswick Premier Brian Gallant says the government is willing to work to keep the community hospital’s operating room open.
Gallant made the remarks in St. Stephen where the town is hosting this year’s official New Brunswick Day celebrations.
“We want to work with the community to find the appropriate medical staff to recruit them to come here so we can keep the OR open,” he said.
The Horizon Health Network earlier announced the OR would close August 8, with procedures to be carried out in Saint John or Fredericton.
The decision to close the OR has resulted in a backlash from the community. Signs were placed in the main area where New Brunswick Day celebrations were taking place and many people held signs opposing the decision during the official ceremonies.
Gallant later met privately with town officials and citizens who say they are cautiously optimistic moving forward.
“We do know of a lot of surgeons,” said Trudy Higgins of the group Concerned Citizens of Charlotte County.
“We’ve also been approached by somebody that said they would come from Saint John so these surgeons exist. It’s just the will to get it done.”
“I believe they’re going to do everything they can to to do what they need to do to make it stay open,” Mayor Allan MacEachern said. “My focus is to definitely keep the hospital here in our area and keep our ER open and get doctors here.”
Gallant says the health network’s decision wasn’t necessarily something the government agreed with and admits there are no guarantees.
“We want to try,” Gallant said. “We want to work with the community. They’ve said they’ve identified some names of people that may be able to come here so we’re going to work with them to see if we can find the right medical staff to provide strong services for the people of Charlotte County at their hospital.”
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