(St. Stephen) September 23, 2016 - Government and Horizon Health Network (Horizon) officials met today with members of the Concerned Citizens of Charlotte County regarding the future of the Charlotte County Hospital (CCH).

Dr. Edouard Hendriks, vice-president of medical, academic and research affairs for Horizon attended the meeting and confirms that there are currently no plans for changes to existing services.

"Services at the Charlotte County Hospital will continue as usual," he said. "That means the emergency department, in-patient services, dialysis, operating rooms (OR)-everything currently in place will continue to operate as it does today."

Rather than reducing services at the CCH, recommendations from the 2013 Community Health Needs Assessment for St. Stephen, St. Andrews and surrounding areas suggested enhancing them by maintaining 24 hour emergency room services, the enhancement of ambulatory care services and the strengthening of primary care services.

"The Charlotte County Hospital remains a vital part of the community, employing over 200 staff and physicians" he said. "We have plans to enhance some services, mainly in primary care and are looking at a new primary care clinic using various health care professionals to provide services in the community."

Horizon physicians support the approach to enhance out-patient and primary care services there and to be involved in the possible development of outreach specialized clinics at the Charlotte County Hospital.

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Media contact:

Stephanie Neilson-Levesque
Senior Media Relations Advisor
Horizon Health Network
1-877-499-1899
Media@HorizonNB.ca
www.HorizonNB.ca