Charlotte County residents hope to save hospital from cuts

A group of Charlotte County residents is starting to lobby for the survival of their small hospital amid concerns it could be closed or changed in upcoming provincial government cuts.

The provincial government has been talking about closing or repurposing some rural hospitals to help address the provinces deficit and debt problems.

While no decisions have been taken, that has not stopped the citizens who say they want to make sure the Charlotte County Hospital is safe from any cuts.

John Gardner started a Facebook group, which now has more than 5,000 members, and saysthere are more plans being put together to show the communitys support for the hospital.

"We are looking very seriously at a campaign and a rally. The rally will be here in St. Stephen if we have to. We already have a few locations well in mind and we have a number of civic people, civic leaders, who are also on board, he said.

So we're not operating in isolation."

Gardner said he is also trying to arrange a public meeting with Health Minister Victor Boudreau to discuss the hospitals future.

St. Stephen Mayor John Quartermain is lending his support to the group that is fighting for the hospitals protection.

"If this Charlotte County hospital getsre-purposedor reduced to some of the services provided here and thingslike that, I think it's really going to generate some realoppositionfrom this area to thatclosing, he said.

I think they should know that up front."

The mayor said he and other residents expect the hospital to maintainthe level of care it currently provides.

Hospital closure would be devastating

Citizens involved with the hospital say that closing the facility in St. Stephen would hurt the local community and put tremendous pressure on the health system in other parts of the province.

Steven Backman, the president of the Charlotte County Hospital Foundation, said it would be devastating to St. Stephen if the hospital was closed.

He said the next closest hospital in Saint John could not handle the additional demand that would come from Charlotte County.

They say all the time that everything is on the table.It's true, everything is on the table, but that doesn't necessarily mean everything is on the chopping block.- Liberal MLA John Ames

In the last year, Backman said there have been about 18,000 visits to the emergency ward and more than 13,000 visits to the diagnostic imaging department.

So these services are being used. There certainly isn't that capacity anywhere else, he said.

Charlotte-Campobello Liberal MLA John Ames said the provincial government is looking to cut costs but no decisions have been made on where the savings will come from.

They say all the time that everything is on the table.It's true, everything is on the table, but that doesn't necessarily mean everything is on the chopping block, Ames said.

The Liberal MLA said the provincial government is looking for feedback from citizens.

Premier Brian Gallant has said repeatedly that his government wants to tackle the provinces debt and deficit situations.

Finance Minister Roger Melanson announced last month the provinces projected deficit is $255 million.

Along with serving as the provinces health minister, Boudreau has been asked to lead the strategic program review, which is looking to save upwards of $600 million by cutting programs and raising revenues.

The provinces debt is nearing $12 billion. Auditor General Kim MacPherson said in her annual report in January that the rise in the net debt is a "disturbing trend" and said it could trigger a reduction in the province's credit rating.