Victor Boudreau hopes Charlotte County OR can stay open

Health Minister VictorBoudreauhasn't given up hope of finding a way to keep thesurgical program at Charlotte County Hospital in St. Stephen open.

The government has asked Horizon Health Network officials to determine what resources would be required to keep the OR operating safely.

"And once we determine what would be required, is itpossible for Horizon and the community to get together and recruit the necessary people to do so?If so, great, if not, well, then,you know, it is what it is, but we certainly want to at least, you know, give this every effort."

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Horizon officials announced last month that surgical procedures requiringa generalanestheticwouldno longer be performed at the hospital, effective Aug. 8.

They cited a decrease in volumes and a change in practice of surgeons.

Charlotte County residents requiring surgery will be treated at other Horizon Health facilities, they said.

On New Brunswick Day, Premier Brian Gallant told a crowd in St. Stephen he didn't agree with the decision and he would attempt to "push" Horizon toward keeping the program open.

"He has not ordered Horizon to do this. We're saying, 'Takealook at this,'" Boudreau told CBC's Information Morning Saint John.

Boudreau stressed it was not a budget-related decision and the government supports Horizon's position that it's not considered best practiceto have only one surgeon with a reduced practiceand one family doctor trained as an anesthesiologist.

"We want to make sure that whatever is to continue, if it is to continue in St. Stephen, that it's done safely and that patient safety is paramount," he said.

But the government is committed to maintaining health services, which is why it opted to increase the HST, he said.

"There's the cost but there's the recruitment factor," said Boudreau.

"Tell us what's required and we'll certainly see if it's a possibility."

John McGarry, thepresident and chief executive officer of Horizon Health,issued a statement on Aug. 2, saying more information would be available once the health network takes the necessary time to come up with an effective plan.

"Since the recent announcement by the premier asking Horizon to find a surgeon, stop the layoffs and reinstate surgery, we are beginning to meet as a team to discuss its implications and to determine the necessary steps forward," it said.

The planned closure of the program was expected to result in five operating staff being laid off, including four nurses and one environmental service employee.

Minor procedures that couldbe carried out under a localanestheticwere expected tocontinue to be offered in the hospital's walk-in clinic, officials hadsaid.