Horizon works to reopen obstetrics unit at hospital in Carleton County

The Horizon Health Network is working to address a "gap in coverage" that forced the temporary closure of the obstetrics unit at the Upper River Valley Hospital in Waterville this week, says the chief of staff.

Pregnant women who would normally give birth at the hospitalwere being directed instead to travel about one hourto either the Dr. Everett ChalmersRegional Hospital in Fredericton or to theEdmundstonRegional Hospital if they wentinto labour between Wednesday at 3 p.m. and Friday at 5 p.m.

Dr. John Dornan saida recent change in the so-called locum surgeons, whofill-in at the obstetrics unit during absences or short-staffing, prompted the unusual step.

One of the new locumsis not currently able to performcaesarean sections, commonly referred to as C-sections, he said.

Even when a delivery is expected to be low-risk, emergency situations can quickly arise during child birth and the hospital must have a contingency plan in place if a C-section is required, said Dornan.

And while surgeons from across the province have been helping out, no one is available to provide that emergency backupfor the next couple of days, he said.

"We had hoped up until a few days even that we might be able to find someone to fill that gap,but we weren't able to do that and so we're enacting a diversion policy."

Nurses union president on obstetric nurse shortage

6 years ago

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CBC New Brunswick's Rachel Cave talks to New Brunswick Nurses Union president Paula Doucet about the short-staffing of nurses trained in obstetrics in several New Brunswick hospitals.

The locum will be learning how to do caesarean sections, and Dornan is "hopeful of being able to give good coverage in the future."

It is the first time the obstetrics unit has had to close "in our recent history," he said.

"I think the key point is that we have a safe diversion policy."

Nursing shortage at Bathurst hospital

Meanwhile, obstetrical services attheChaleurRegional Hospital inBathursthave also been "interrupted temporarily" this week because of a "lack of nursing staff," theVitalitHealth Network announced on Monday.

Until Friday at 8 a.m., pregnant women in that area are being redirected to hospitals inCampbelltonandMiramichito give birth.

"The obstetrical unit at theChaleurRegional Hospitalis still open, let's say, if a patient has a fever and she's not in labour,she's still welcome to the unit," saidVitalitspokesperson Thomas Lizotte.

"And for emergency reasons our doors are still open, right? So we're not going to let a woman in labour, you know, at the door or say, 'You've got to drive to Miramichi or Campbellton.'"

But right now, Chaleur has only one nurse trained in labour and delivery for the day and night shift, when ideally, there should be two more, Lizottesaid.

For safety reasons, expectant mothers are being redirected.

Vitalit"regrets any inconvenience that this situation could cause," Johanne Roy, vice-president of clinical services, said in a statement.