An almost $6.4 million investment to increase access to surgical services in the province.
This affects Horizon Health hospitals in Sussex, Sackville, Upper River Valley and Oromocto.
The following surgical programs will be expanded:
- Upper River Valley Hospital: This New Joint Arthroplasty Project will result in increased orthopedic surgeries for knee replacement. The program launch is anticipated for
November-December 2022. Horizon is investing approximately $350,000 in equipment for this initiative and $1.5 million annually in additional human resources. This program
enhancement is estimated to serve an additional 360 knee replacement patients in one year. - Dr. Everett Chalmers Regional Hospital and Oromocto Public Hospital: This New Joint Arthroplasty Project will result in increased orthopedic surgeries for hip replacement. The
program launch is anticipated for late spring/early summer 2023. Horizon is investing approximately $555,000 in this initiative, which is estimated to serve an additional 730
hip replacement patients in one year. - Sackville Memorial Hospital: This initiative will improve surgical access for the region through the renovation of the existing operating room (OR) and the inclusion of an
additional OR suite. Renovations are expected to begin by late spring 2023. Horizon is investing approximately $2 million in this program, which will provide additional access
to orthopedic surgeries as well as other appropriate procedures. - Sussex Health Centre: This initiative will expand OR and clinic access through renovations to enable multi-purpose use. Options are being explored for cataract surgery,
endoscopy, and other appropriate procedures. Horizon is investing approximately $2 million in this initiative. Renovations are expected to begin by late spring 2023
Interim Horizon Health Network President and CEO Margaret Melanson says this will allow more surgeries per month, “Procedures that are not necessarily required to be undertaken in our regional facilities can be moved to these community facilities for their surgeries to proceed.”
Dr. Patricia Bryden, Horizon’s Executive Clinical/Academic Department Head and Co-Leader of Surgical Services says, “We are hopeful that not only will this initiative and this project reduce the numbers on the wait lists, but it will keep the numbers on the wait lists under control going forward.”
This investment will result in more than 1,090 additional hip and knee replacement surgeries annually (on top of what is currently performed). This will also help Horizon increase access to -and lower wait times for acute care services.
Recruitment efforts are underway to coincide with the launch timing of the augmented programs.
