Public asked to avoid overcrowded N.B. emergency rooms unless absolutely necessary
Capacity issues forced New Brunswick's francophone health authority to ask the public to avoid two of its emergency rooms on Friday unless they need critical care.
The Vitalite Health Network said emergency departments at the Hopital de l'Enfant-Jesus in Caraquet, and the Campbellton Regional Hospital were experiencing a "high volume of patients" and a "high bed occupancy rate."
"People who come to the (emergency department) for non-urgent reasons should be patient and expect much longer than usual wait times," the health authority said in a news release.
The agency said in a followup email that respiratory virus season was "in full effect" and the Christmas holidays made it more difficult for people to access primary care services.
As of Friday afternoon, all but one of the 13 beds were occupied at the Hopital de l'Enfant-Jesus, the health authority said in an email. The Campbellton Regional Hospital's emergency department was operating at 180 per cent capacity.
The emergency room at the Stella-Maris-de-Kent Hospital in Sainte-Anne-de-Kent, N.B., will be closed overnight during the holiday period because of nurse shortages.
"While we are observing higher than normal visitor numbers in Caraquet and in Campbellton, we confirm that all emergency services in other hospitals of the network are operating normally," the health authority said in an email.
Anyone needing non-critical care should see their family doctor, contact the province's telehealth line or schedule a virtual appointment through eVisitNB, the health agency advised.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 29, 2023.
For more New Brunswick news visit our dedicated provincial page.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Western University researchers unlock potential 'cure' for ALS
New research out of London, Ont.'s Western University is shedding light on a potential cure for ALS, in which the targeting of the interaction between two proteins can halt or fully reverse the disease's progression.
Police release 3D images of young child found in an Ontario river two years ago
Police have released a three-dimensional image of a young child whose remains were discovered in the Grand River in Dunnville, Ont. almost two years ago.
B.C. brings in law on name changes on day that child killer's new identity revealed
The BC NDP have tabled legislation aimed at stopping people who have committed certain heinous acts from changing their names.
Kamala Harris drops F-bomb during White House live-stream
U.S. Vice-President Kamala Harris used a profanity on Monday while offering advice to young Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders about how to break through barriers.
B.C. man fighting for refund after finding someone living at Whistler vacation rental
Edwin Mostered spent thousands of dollars booking a vacation home in Whistler, B.C., for a group skiing trip earlier this year – or so he thought.
Avs forward Valeri Nichushkin suspended at least six months
Colorado Avalanche forward Valeri Nichushkin was suspended for at least six months without pay and placed in Stage 3 of the league's player assistance program.
Collapsed Baltimore bridge span comes down with a boom after crews set off chain of explosives
Crews conducted a controlled demolition Monday to break down the largest remaining span of the collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore.
Security video caught admitted serial killer disposing of bodies in Winnipeg garbage bins
Security video caught admitted serial killer Jeremy Skibicki on multiple late-night outings, disposing of body parts in nearby garbage bins and dumpsters in the middle of the night.
Mortgage companies could intensify the next recession, U.S. officials warn
U.S. officials worry the next recession could be intensified by a cascading series of failures in the mortgage industry caused by crashing home prices, frozen financial markets and soaring delinquencies.