Charlotte County Hospital's OR needs staff, group says

A citizens group in St. Stephen worries the Charlotte County Hospital'ssurgical unit cannot operate properly without more staff.

Trudy Higgins, a member of the Concerned Citizens of Charlotte County, said the operating room at the hospital now has two or three part-time nurses. But it needsat least four, she said.

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"The OR has to have nurses," she said.

She said one nurse wanted to retire by Christmas but has now agreed to stay on for two days a week. However,the group fears the operating room may have to close if staff needs are not met.

Changes to operating room procedures

Higgins said her group raised concerns about the facility's staff shortages since July.

At the time, Horizon Health Network announced it would shut down the hospital's operating room, citing low operating volumes and plans of the lone surgeon to retire.

Horizon since agreed to keep the facility open at a reduced level of service.

Patients can come in for minor operations but any procedure requiring the use of a general anaesthetic must be performed elsewhere.

Higgins said the group asked Horizon about the shortage of nurses when it first started advocatingto keep the facility open in July.

But it was told the recruitment of new staff was not necessary.

"Those kinds of comments do not give a lot of satisfaction," she said."I believe that the nurses are still concerned about the level of work and I think that is something that should be addressed."

CBC contacted Horizon about the group's concerns but did not get a response as of Wednesday at 5 p.m.

Group wants to change to local board

The groupalso wants a local board to take over management of the hospital, though the facility would remain part of the Horizon network.

Higgins said that there are other community hospitals in the province that are run by local boards. It gives the communities better oversight and more accountability over thefacilities, she said.

The province's health minister has the authority to invoke thechange, she said. The group now wants to meet with Premier Brian Gallant and Horizon to discuss theoptions. It is also getting legal advice.

"We don't feel that we are being represented adequately and we know that our local board would do a far better job," she said.