Foundation aims for $225k for Sackville day surgeries, while ER remains ‘on the agenda’ for Horizon
Board members, staff and supporters of the Sackville Memorial Hospital Foundation gathered last week for the launch of a new capital campaign in support of equipment for the hospital’s day surgery programs, with an ambitious goal of raising $225,000, well above last year’s goal of $150,000.
Foundation chair Bill Evans says the reason for the steep increase in fundraising goal is three new, very large, advance donations which put the foundation more than a third of the way to their goal. “This is from people who hadn’t given to us before,” says Evans. “So we decided to have a goal that was bigger.”
Evans says the three new donors have asked to remain either anonymous or uncelebrated, and were referred to the Foundation by orthopedic surgeon Dr. Mike Forsythe.
The money raised in this year’s campaign will go towards buying specialized equipment for the day surgery program, including instruments for hip, knee and shoulder arthroscopy, a warming cabinet, a surgical suction system, ear, nose and throat devices, and a training tool called iSimulate.
Horizon says the new equipment will increase the number of patients who could receive surgical care in Sackville, in turn freeing up space in the Moncton hospital for more complex operations.
Sackville resident Jaryd Morrisey, who coaches soccer and badminton at Mount Allison, told those gathered about a knee surgery that helped him heal a longstanding injury, giving him back his active lifestyle.… Continue
Foundation launches campaign to raise $225k for surgical equipment in Sackville Hospital
On today’s show, we stop in to the Sackville Memorial Hospital as the SMH foundation launches its 2024 campaign to raise $225,000 for the purchase of specialized equipment for the hospital’s day surgery program. We hear from foundation board chair Bill Evans, former patient Jaryd Morrisey, and Horizon director Christa Wheeler-Thorne, who gives an update on hospital services in Sackville.
Plus in briefs, health advice on eclipse safety and measles vaccination updates from New Brunswick’s public health officers.… Continue
Wednesday on TR: Hospital rally today; Higham on Horizon’s response to frustration in Sackville
Listen to Tantramar Report for the following stories:
Hospital rally Wednesday at 11:30am
Sackville and area residents are rallying today at 11:30am at the Sackville Memorial Hospital. The Rural Health Action Group is asking people to come protest the recent service closures at the hospital and call for action on the crisis. Guest speakers will be presenting at the rally. Masks are mandatory and parking is available just down the street at Main Street Baptist church and Moneris.
Interview: John Higham on hospital cuts, Rural Health Action Group and and Horizon’s response
On Tantramar Report we talk with John Higham, former Sackville mayor and co-chair of the Rural Health Action Group. Higham talks about the group’s work, his reaction to comments from Horizon Health CEO John Dornan at Monday’s town council meeting, and the path forward for the Sackville hospital.
Also on Tantramar Report, we look at what Horizon officials had to say at Sackville town council on Monday.
Horizon issues call to nurses to come work in Sackville
After promising action on recruitment at Monday’s Sackville town council meeting, Horizon CEO John Dornan issued a statement on Tuesday, addressed to “current and future New Brunswick nurses.” In the statement, Dornan pitches Sackville as a “friendly, welcoming and progressive community” and offers nurses financial incentives for certain eligible positions, including a one-time incentive of $10,000 in exchange for an agreement to work for three years.… Continue
Updated: Horizon announces all-week overnight closures for Sackville ER, starting November 19
Updated with comments from Christa Wheeler-Thorne, Executive Director, Horizon’s The Moncton Hospital/Sackville Memorial Hospital
Horizon Health Network announced this morning that effective Friday, November 19, Sackville emergency room hours will be reduced to daytime only, with the ER open 8am to 4pm seven days a week.
Horizon’s announcement says, “emergency care will not be offered during the evening or night, and all patients and clients requiring medical care will need to seek treatment at another hospital.”
Overnight emergency care has been unavailable in Sackville on weekend nights since June 11, 2021.
The further reduction in service is due to a physician and nursing shortage, says Horizon. “The emergency department at Horizon’s Sackville Memorial Hospital has been faced with staff shortages in the past which has led to frequent coverage issues,” reads the announcement.
In an emailed statement, Christa Wheeler-Thorne, executive director of the Moncton Hospital and Sackville Memorial Hospital, confirmed that the move was intended to be temporary. “We want to be clear this change is temporary but is necessary to provide appropriate nursing resources for inpatient services… This change will also help to resolve the confusion for the public and Ambulance New Brunswick who are affected by last-minute, sporadic closures.”
The Sackville ER has had several last minute overnight closures, and even a daytime closure, in addition to the scheduled weekend overnight closures announced in June.
“Horizon acknowledges this change will be difficult for community members,” writes Wheeler-Thorne, “but we believe it is the best way to provide safe and quality care while providing reliable physician and nursing coverage.”… Continue