N.B. premier wants surgery program at Charlotte County Hospital kept open

Premier Brian Gallant will attempt to "push" Horizon Health Networktoward keeping the surgery program openat Charlotte County Hospital.

Horizonannounced in July that operating roomfacilities at the hospital would shut down Aug. 9, citing low volume.

The premier made his statements during his speech in St. Stephen on New Brunswick Day. The assembled crowd initially booed his attempts to address the topicwith one person yelling "excuses."

Gallant said he believes that if the right personnel can be recruited, the unit couldcontinue to operate.

"I want to put in perspective, that if the person wasn't retiring there'd be really no issue, everything would go forward as is."

According to Gallant,Horizon doesnot think they will be able to recruit adequatemedical staff.

"We do not agree. We want to work with the community to find the appropriate medical staff and recruit them to come here so we can keep the O.R. open."

Keeping support staff on

He also thinks medical supportstaff can be kept on, although he acknowledged Horizon's authority.

"We're going to push [Horizon] to hopefully keep the fivesupporting staff here in Charlotte County," said Gallant.

"So we can, working together, recruit someone they can go right in, no transition time lost, they can go right back into the O.R. making sure that the service is available."

Gallant praisedthe community's activismon the issue andalso saidhe heard at a rally that surgeons had expressed interest. According to him, Horizon hasnot received any names.

Horizon Health Network could not be reached for comment Monday.