New doctor coming to Port Elgin, full time nurse practitioner for Tantramar
Horizon’s director of primary health care for Zone 1, Richard Lemay, had some good news to share on Wednesday evening at a public meeting about health care held in the Port Elgin Regional School. Lemay told the crowd of about 70 people that Horizon has signed a contract with a new physician to work at the Port Elgin and Region Health Centre starting sometime in early 2025.
The clinic lost its full time nurse practitioner this spring, and has been operating with an NP working just two days a week. That NP will wrap up their work in Port Elgin on August 31 this year, leaving a gap with no primary care provider based out of the clinic for several months. Lemay says Horizon is working to fill the gap, and is still not sure how long it will be, because it’s not yet clear exactly when the new physician will start.
“The plan is for that person to probably be here, early 2025, after Christmas,” said Lemay. “We can’t share any more details right now because he has to share information with his patients right now to inform them first. But probably this fall, we’ll be able to tell you exactly when the person is going to start. And we’ll keep you informed.”
During the Q&A session of the meeting, one resident asked about the longevity of the contract for the physician, which prompted Dr.… Continue
‘This is your best bet’: Sackville’s new primary care clinic is starting small, but at least its starting
A new primary care clinic operated by Horizon will grow to operate as a ‘patient medical home’ serving the region, and eventually providing some after hours care, according to updates by Horizon Health Network managers at a public meeting on October 12 in Sackville.
About 60 community members gathered to hear updates from the leadership of the Horizon Health Network, about half as many as gathered in July for a similar meeting. Both meetings were organized by MLA Megan Mitton.
Richard Lemay is Horizon’s director of primary health care for the Moncton area and one of the people spearheading the creation of a new community clinic located in the Tantramar Community Health Centre, a privately owned building across the parking lot from the Sackville Memorial Hospital. Lemay said the clinic opened on September 11, and as of October 6 has seen 154 people, with 163 appointments in total. The clinic alternates between opening three days and four days a week, depending on availability of staff. There’s a registered nurse, two administrators, and three physicians working part time in the clinic so far, including Dr. Catherine Johnston, and Dr. Sarah Thomas working virtually. Lemay says Horizon has funding for a licensed practical nurse (LPN) and nurse practitioner (NP), plus “a bit of casual support”. He told the meeting Horizon is “trying to fill those positions at this time,” and said there is also an outstanding posting for a nurse practitioner at the Port Elgin Health Clinic.… Continue