N.B. urged to get “serious about recruiting” with more emergency room reductions
The reduction of service inside another New Brunswick hospital’s emergency department has advocates calling for increased recruiting of doctors and other healthcare providers.
Effective Tuesday, the emergency room at the Oromocto Public Hospital will now close daily at 4 p.m. (six hours earlier than its previous closing time of 10 p.m.) and will reopen at 8 a.m. the following day.
“These temporary closures will remain in place until we are able to recruit an adequate number of health care professionals to work in this department,” said the Horizon Health Network in a written statement.
Nobody from the health authority, nor the Department of Health, was made available for an interview with CTV on Tuesday or Wednesday.
“So temporary could be six months, six years,” says resident Yvonne Westall. “Who knows?”
Earlier in June, hours in the emergency department were cut at the Sackville Memorial Hospital between 4 p.m. and 8 a.m. every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
Horizon has issued emergency room staff shortage advisories throughout the spring, primarily at the Moncton Hospital and the Dr. Everett Chalmers Regional Hospital in Fredericton.
Horizon has been urging people to avoid emergency departments and use after-hours clinics, pharmacies and Tele-care 811 for non-urgent medical issues.
“It does highlight the bigger problem,” says Dr. Jeff Steeves, president of the New Brunswick Medical Society. “The shortage of physicians specifically, but also healthcare providers generally including nurses and other allied health professionals.”
Steeves says the problem of ER staff shortages is well known by now and just needs the political will to repair.
“We really do want to get serious about recruiting. Health care is one of the number one priorities when you do surveys of the population," said Steeves.
“I think the government needs to bring that priority to the table so we can have a more concerted effort to move forward.”
In February 2020, New Brunswick’s then minority Progressive Conservative government reversed a decision to close six emergency rooms overnight citing widespread criticism.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
B.C. tenants evicted for landlord's use after refusing large rent increase to take over neighbouring suite
Ashley Dickey and her mother rented part of the same Coquitlam duplex in three different decades under three different landlords.
Mountain guide dies after falling into a crevasse in Banff National Park
A man who fell into a crevasse while leading a backcountry ski group deep in the Canadian Rockies has died.
Expert warns of food consumption habits amid rising prices
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.
MPP Sarah Jama asked to leave Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
MPP Sarah Jama was asked to leave the Legislative Assembly of Ontario by House Speaker Ted Arnott on Thursday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment which has been banned at Queen’s Park.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
Ex-tabloid publisher testifies he scooped up possibly damaging tales to shield his old friend Trump
As Donald Trump was running for president in 2016, his old friend at the National Enquirer was scooping up potentially damaging stories about the candidate and paying out tens of thousands of dollars to keep them from the public eye.
Here's why provinces aren't following Saskatchewan's lead on the carbon tax home heating fight
After Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the federal government would still send Canada Carbon Rebate cheques to Saskatchewan residents, despite Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe's decision to stop collecting the carbon tax on natural gas or home heating, questions were raised about whether other provinces would follow suit. CTV News reached out across the country and here's what we found out.
Montreal actress calls Weinstein ruling 'discouraging' but not surprising
A Montreal actress, who has previously detailed incidents she had with disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, says a New York Court of Appeals decision overturning his 2020 rape conviction is 'discouraging' but not surprising.
Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye make it four NFL drafts with quarterbacks going 1-3
Caleb Williams is heading to the Windy City, aiming to become the franchise quarterback Chicago has sought for decades.