Vitalité Health Network adjusting to the transition of two of its zones to the Red level
Bathurst, Wednesday, January 20, 2021 – The transition to the Red level in Zone 1 (Moncton region) and Zone 4 (Edmundston region) means an increased alert level, temporary service reductions and additional visitor restrictions for Vitalité Health Network hospital facilities located in these zones.
Patient services
In compliance with the Red level measures of New Brunswick’s recovery plan, non-urgent medical procedures and elective surgeries could be postponed at Dr. Georges-L.-Dumont University Hospital Centre, Stella-Maris-de-Kent Hospital, Grand Falls General Hospital, Edmundston Regional Hospital and Hôtel Dieu Saint Joseph de Saint Quentin. The temporary service reductions will be adjusted based on the capacities of each facility and the spread of the virus in the community.
At this time, the Network asks anyone with an appointment to report to the hospital at the scheduled date and time. Should certain services be affected, the Network will contact the patients directly concerned to postpone their appointments.
No visitors
Visits are already prohibited in all Network facilities located in Orange level zones. Additional restrictions apply for hospitals in Red level zones, namely Dr. Georges-L.-Dumont University Hospital Centre, Stella-Maris-de-Kent Hospital, Grand Falls General Hospital, Edmundston Regional Hospital and Hôtel Dieu Saint Joseph de Saint Quentin. At these facilities, visits are only permitted as follows:
- Visits are restricted to one designated visitor per patient in the Obstetric and Pediatric units and to two designated visitors (one at a time) for Palliative Care (end-of-life) patients;
- As for patients who will receive medical assistance in dying, the presence of two designated visitors is allowed (one at a time), except in exceptional cases where one of the visitors requires assistance to go to the patient’s bedside.
Easing traffic at Emergency departments
The Network would like to clarify that all its Emergency departments are open for people who need urgent care and who want to consult a physician. However, the Network asks people whose health condition does not require urgent care to see their family doctor or nurse practitioner, consult their community pharmacist, visit a walk-in clinic or call Tele-Care (811).
