Cancellations

• The following Horizon services were affected by the CUPE strike on Nov. 3, 2021:

• 2,240 patient appointments or procedures cancelled
• 37 surgeries cancelled

Hospital Overview

• Horizon will continue to provide safe and quality care to all inpatients.

• Unless you have been notified by Horizon that your surgery/procedure/appointment remains in place, it is cancelled, with the following exception: 

• All oncology and dialysis treatments will continue.

• Some elective and day surgeries are cancelled.
• All ambulatory care clinics, laboratory services and diagnostic/medical imaging exams are cancelled.  You will be notified by the department if your appointment remains in place.
• All therapeutic services (physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech language pathology, audiology, clinical nutrition and psychology) are cancelled. You will be notified by the department if your appointment remains in place.
• Obstetrical patients can enter using the main door during the day and use the emergency department door after hours.
• Physicians are monitoring admissions for critical patient care needs and assessing patients that can be timely discharged.
• Physician offices located outside of a Horizon facility are not affected by the strike.

Visitors and DSPs

• Visitor restrictions remain in place.
• Designated Support Persons (DSPs) are welcome to Horizon facilities upon approval, and as scheduled with the patient unit.
• Due to lack of access to COVID-19 testing, unvaccinated DSPs will only be allowed to enter on a case-by-case basis.

Community Health Centres

Horizon's Community Health Centres, Health Centres, and Addiction and Mental Health Services are operating, but with limited services.

• Please present for your appointment as booked and be patient with any increased wait times for screening and registration. Due to staffing challenges, anticipate delays in our ability to respond to telephone inquiries.
• The following facilities in Fredericton and Saint John areclosedand appointments are cancelled:
• • Fredericton
  • • Fredericton Southside Health Centre
  • Saint John
  • • Uptown Saint John Health Centre
    • HOPE Wellness Centre
    • Marketplace Wellness Centre 
• Due to labour actions, the Recovery Centre located at Ridgewood in Saint John must reduce its hours from 24/7 coverage to 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday to Friday beginning Nov. 4.
• • Upon discharge at 4:30 p.m., patients are provided with supports to continue their recovery off campus.
  • Patients are also being supported through virtual and phone appointments, however overnight and weekend services are not available.
• Blood and Specimen Collection services in the community continue, but capacity is significantly reduced.
• Pediatric immunization clinics through Public Health are continuing, but there are some reductions in Public Health services.

COVID-19 PANDEMIC SERVICES

Vaccination Clinics

• The COVID-19 vaccination clinic for Nov. 3 in Saint John is proceeding, by appointment with no walk-in availability.
• COVID-19 vaccination clinics scheduled for Nov. 4 in Fredericton, Saint John and St. Stephen will proceed by appointment with no walk-in availability.

Assessment Centres

• All Horizon COVID-19 assessment centres are closed except for Miramichi, which is operating at reduced capacity in testing services.
• In areas where assessment centres are closed, Public Health is contacting priority patients and diverting them elsewhere for testing.
• Other patient referrals for testing are on hold in Moncton, Fredericton and Saint John. They will be processed based on priority level and the capacity available in our system.

POCT test kit pickup sites

Rapid screening kits are available for pickup at Horizon's permanent locations; mobile sites are not operating.