There continues to be disappointment and anger over the closure of the operating room at the Charlotte County Hospital in St. Stephen, N.B.
Residents say it’s a move that will jeopardize healthcare not only for St. Stephen, but well beyond the town, too.
"I knew they were downsizing some of the stuff, but I was shocked," says St. Stephen resident Julianne Higgins.
Higgins says because of quick action by doctors, her son was able to get a cancer diagnosis just in time.
"My son might be with us today, but if he had to wait for the process in another city or something, I can't say that he would be with us,” said Higgins.
She says the facility is in danger of becoming a clinic or nursing home, rather than a hospital.
Horizon Health Network says the operating room is not being used enough to justify it staying open.
"Surgical volume has been low at Charlotte County Hospital for many years despite Horizon's efforts to increase volume," said Horizon Health Network in a statement. "(As a result), surgical services requiring a general anesthetic will no longer be performed at the CCH."
Horizon Health says minor procedures will continue to be offered in the ambulatory clinic.
Dr. Tom Goulding is a surgeon at the hospital. He says closing the OR will impact patient care.
"Without it, it changes how the hospital works and probably degrades the care in many ways, which means more patients having to go up to Saint John," says Dr. Goulding.
The hospital is used by residents as far away as Campobello Island who have to travel 45 minutes through Maine just to get to St. Stephen.
"Then come to Stephen and then have to drive to Saint John or Fredericton. You're looking at two-and-a-half hours," said Dr. Goulding.
If volume is low, Higgins says the province should consider moving some surgeries to St. Stephen to reduce the backlog in Saint John.
With files from CTV Atlantic’s Mike Cameron.
