Pregnant mothers are being directed to DECH or Edmundston
Horizon Health has announced that labour and birth services at the Upper River Valley Hospital (URVH) are not available until Valentine’s Day.
In a news release, Horizon said it “wishes to inform the public that labour and birth services will be temporarily unavailable at Horizon’s Upper River Valley Hospital (URVH) from Monday, Feb. 9 at 8 a.m. until Saturday, Feb. 14 at 8 a.m.”
Horizon said 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 lack of surgical and anesthesiology coverage to provide emergency caesarean sections (C-sections),” the release noted, adding that “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.”
The hospital reached out to every mother who is 35 weeks pregnant and over to advise them of the change.
“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,” noted the news release.
