Sick | People may not have money for taxis

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By ADAM BOWIE
bowie.adam@dailygleaner.com

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Dawn Beals says the closure of the Oromocto Public Hospital's emergency room is having an impact on the health of many community residents.

Beals said the increased travelling distance is deterring some people from seeking the care they need.

"If they can't get there, they have a tendency to put it off," she said. "From a personal standpoint, my husband isn't well. He's pre-dialysis. If something minor happens and the family doctor isn't available, it means I have to find someone to take us to Fredericton.

"It's a real inconvenience, or it's expensive, and that extra drive up the highway could make a difference in someone's health."

She said creating a temporary after-hours clinic would make life easier for people in the community.

She also believes it would take the strain off local family physicians and their colleagues working at the Dr. Everett Chalmers Regional Hospital.

"I've heard that some local doctors' offices are being overwhelmed because people who would normally go to the emergency room are now waiting for doctor's appointments," she said.

"That can take weeks sometimes, or never happen. Some people don't even have family doctors."

A ruptured water pipe caused significant damage to the facility's emergency room last month. Local health officials expect the emergency room to be closed through the end of summer or possibly into early fall.

Beals said that's too long to wait.

"We need something, even if it's only short term," she said.

"The closure impacts people from the town and from outlying areas like Burton, Geary, Sheffield, Maugerville and other areas. That's a fair amount of people to have to go without any nearby medical services for a long duration."

Oromocto MLA Jody Carr said he's received calls from many residents who are fed up with the situation.

"The distance, the cost and having to rely on ambulance or taxis to get (to the nearest emergency room) are all concerns for people in this community," he said.

"It costs $130 one way for an ambulance. It costs about $30 one way for a taxi. That's causing lots of trouble for people and some of them are deciding to hold off on going to Fredericton."

Carr said that can lead to further medical complications.

"Putting it off that long can sometimes cause new problems, or cause existing problems to become more serious," he said.

"An after-hours clinic would help address the transportation issue and allow patients to see a doctor in a more timely fashion."

He said he's heard a few local family physicians may be open to talking about it.

Carr also wants to see the backlog of routine breast screening procedures - which have been building up since the water pipe ruptured - addressed.

He said he'd like to know if it would be possible to set up a temporary breast screening clinic in another section of the hospital.

"There is a boardroom at the Oromocto Public Hospital or they could possibly look at other locations," he said.

"But I'm not sure either if it has to do with the equipment being damaged. There is mobile equipment out there that maybe they could get on a temporary basis to allow for some of these screenings to continue."

He said he's willing to meet with local stakeholders to determine what could be done.

Local health officials couldn't be reached for comment Wednesday afternoon.