Horizon says Waterville unit will be closed until April 20
In a social media post on Wednesday, April 8, Horizon Health informed the public that labour and birth services will be temporarily unavailable at the Upper River Valley Hospital (URVH) in Waterville from Thursday, Apr. 9, at 8 p.m. until Monday, Apr. 20, at 8 a.m.
All pregnant individuals who would normally deliver their babies at URVH will need to travel to Horizon’s Dr. Everett Chalmers Regional Hospital (DECRH) or Vitalité’s Edmundston Regional Hospital (ERH), whichever is closest.
The reason for this change is due to a temporary lack of available operating room nurses, as well as surgical and anesthesiology coverage to provide emergency caesarian sections (C-sections).
Even if a pregnant individual feels they are low-risk and do not require a C-section, they must still travel to the DECRH or ERH for labour and birth, as pregnancy-related issues and emergency situations can quickly arise during childbirth.
All individuals in the URVH service area who are 35 weeks pregnant and over are being contacted by nursing staff.
Horizon understands this temporary change will require additional travel for expectant families in the Upper River Valley area, and we sincerely appreciate their patience and understanding.
