Patients made their return to the hospital in Perth-Andover, N.B. after a devastating flood forced the closure of the building three months ago.
Emergency services returned to the village hospital today as did inpatients that were displaced from the flood waters in March.
The opening of the hospital was welcome news in Perth-Andover, where the flood damage lingers.
The village office remains closed for repairs and today the province confirmed the high school will re-open in the fall, putting to rest any speculation that next year's graduating class may have to start the school year elsewhere.
But the hospital's return is encouraging to residents, many of whom thought it may never re-open.
"That would have just took a lot of people out of town; like, a lot of people have lost their homes because of the flood," says one resident. "So if the hospital hadn't re-opened it would have put a damper on things."
Fifteen patients should be back in the hospital by tomorrow, taking pressure off facilities in Grand Falls and Waterville. Surgical services are expected to be available by mid-July.
"That will actually complete all the services we were providing prior to the flood," says Dean Cummings, the executive director of Upper River Valley Health.
While the hospital is back open, only 30 per cent of the building is being used; the rest remains closed off due to flood damage.
Trailers are being used to house some hospital services and the rest of the space came from strategic planning.
"Basically, we approached all the departments to see what they could sacrifice in the areas, whether it be lunchrooms, the cafeteria, coffee shops," says Cummings. "So, because of that, we were able to free up space to provide more patient services."
The damage to the hospital is estimated to be as much as $12-million, while the final price tag of the cleanup is yet to be determined.
With files from CTV Atlantic's Nick Moore
