Physician shortages: The Network asks to reduce overnight Emergency Department visits at Hôtel-Dieu Saint-Joseph de Saint-Quentin and Stella-Maris-de-Kent

Bathurst, Thursday, October 7th, 2021 – Vitalité Health Network asks that the public limit overnight visits to the Emergency department of the Hôtel-Dieu Saint-Joseph de Saint-Quentin as well as Stella-Maris-de-Kent, except in cases of an emergency. This temporary measure is due to a lack of medical staff in these hospitals’ facility.

• At Hôtel-Dieu Saint-Joseph de Saint-Quentin, this will be in effect:
  From Saturday, October 9, 2021 to Monday, October 11, 2021, between 8 p.m. and 8 a.m. 
• At Stella-Maris-de-Kent, this will be in effect:
  From Friday, October 8, 2021 to Monday, October 11, 2021, between 8 p.m. and 8 a.m.

The Emergency department of these hospitals will remain available for people who need urgent care and who wish to see a doctor. However, the Network asks that people whose health condition is not critical see their family doctor, see their community pharmacist, or call Tele-Care (811).

People who still come to these emergency departments for non-urgent reasons may be referred to another hospital or asked to return the next day if their condition permits.

Some ambulances heading to these hospitals may be redirected to another hospital facility during the period following an initial assessment of the patient by the nursing staff.

The Network thanks the public for their valuable co-operation.