Cutting services isn’t going to cut it.
Chair of Walk Cause We Care, John Gardner says if he were going to save the province money, he would start by expanding the Charlotte County Hospital, and not close up shop.
He tells us the province is already saving money with having the dialysis unit and new mammography machine in St. Stephen. “It’s actually costing us to get [patients] to Saint John. Whether directly or indirectly, and by having it here, it’s going to be a lot better on their finances, so that will be better on the province’s finances in the long run.”
He suggests starting with the expansion of adding more day surgeries, “That would reduce wait times overall in the province. By reducing wait times, you’re reducing pre-operative time, which will reduce the cost. If you get into surgery sooner, you reduce the post-operative time, again, reducing the cost.”
Gardner says Horizon Health recently did a study, conducted by Harbour Front, and it was recommended that the Charlotte County Hospital be enhanced, not cut.
He adds they are currently organizing a rally in the near future to show support for the hospital, as the provincial government considers its closure in order to reduce the deficit.
