Rural New Brunswick Hospital Fills General Surgeon Vacancies for First Time in a Decade

Horizon Health Network announced a significant milestone for the Upper River Valley Hospital (URVH) in Waterville, New Brunswick, by filling all three general surgeon positions. This marks the first time in ten years the rural hospital has had a full complement of general surgeons.

The addition of two new general surgeons is anticipated to reduce surgery wait times and bolster the hospital's capacity to handle emergency and elective Cesarean sections. This comes after the hospital temporarily diverted labor and birth services last month due to staffing shortages, sending patients to Fredericton, an hour away.

"A woman that is anticipating a normal vaginal delivery, can’t take a chance on her going through that at this hospital if there is no one there to deal with an emergency C-section," stated John Dornan, the province’s health minister, explaining the previous challenges.

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A woman that is anticipating a normal vaginal delivery, can’t take a chance on her going through that at this hospital if there is no one there to deal with an emergency C-section.

Currently, five out of ten surgeries at URVH are completed within 251 days, and nine out of ten within 500 days, reflecting some of the longest wait times in New Brunswick. Dr. Martha Mills, Horizon's chief of staff for the area, expressed optimism that the three surgeons working together will create a "stronger foundation" for essential services, calling the recruitment a "significant milestone."

While the start dates for the new surgeons are not yet confirmed, recruitment efforts continue for anesthesia and operating room professionals. The province's health minister also noted that even with previous staffing, not all surgical services were consistently available.

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Successfully recruiting two general surgeons is a significant milestone for URVH and reflects the dedicated efforts of our leaders, recruitment teams, local physicians, and community partners.