New Brunswick’s Liberal government has been establishing collaborative care clinics across the province. However, in Minto, which already has a clinic, the community is facing service reductions. Horizon Health, the Queens North Community Health Centre in Minto, announced the discontinuation of walk-in clinic hours on Saturdays, limiting the clinic’s operation to weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Mayor Kevin Nicklin of Grand Lake expressed concerns about the reduction in clinic hours, emphasizing the community’s increasing dependence on the clinic in recent years. With the recent retirement of Dr. Gordon Haynes, a family physician serving approximately 2,000 patients, and a nurse practitioner on maternity leave, the local health system is under significant strain.
Nicklin described the situation as a crisis, particularly for the elderly population without access to a family doctor. Despite efforts to reinstate Saturday walk-in hours, there is no definite timeline provided by Horizon due to a shortage of healthcare providers in the area.
Residents, including those working in rural logging camps, rely on the clinic for medical care, making the service reduction a critical issue for the community. The MLA, Kris Austin, expressed concerns about the potential permanency of these temporary cuts, highlighting the clinic’s significance as a vital healthcare facility in the region.
Matthew Richardson, a local resident, emphasized the importance of accessible healthcare services in attracting professionals to the area. He raised concerns about the impact of reduced clinic hours on working individuals who may struggle to seek medical attention during weekdays.
The community is apprehensive about further service reductions, especially with the upcoming construction of a new jail that would bring additional workers to the area. Horizon assured that booked appointments for specific services on Saturdays, such as nursing care, remain unaffected by the reduction in walk-in hours.
