WATERVILLE, N.B. — Horizon Health Network has hired two general surgeons for the Upper River Valley Hospital, a move the network says will bolster surgical coverage and help stabilise labour-and-delivery services that faced repeated disruptions this summer.
Full complement of general surgeons for first time in 10 years
In a statement issued Aug. 6, Horizon said the two new surgeons will be trained to perform both emergency and elective C-sections. One surgeon began practising at the hospital in July, and the other is scheduled to start during the week of Aug. 17. The health network said training for C-sections will occur “in the near future.”
Horizon also noted this restores the hospital to having all three general surgeon positions filled — a situation it says has not existed at the facility in about 10 years.
Recent service disruptions and diversions
The Upper River Valley Hospital, located in Waterville and serving communities across western New Brunswick, had temporarily diverted patients from its labour-and-delivery unit several times this year due to staffing shortages. According to the network, the unit resumed accepting patients on Aug. 10 after the most recent diversion that began following an announcement on July 24.
Earlier diversions occurred in April and again in late May into June. These interruptions forced labouring patients to travel to other area hospitals for obstetrical care while the unit worked to restore adequate staffing.
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Labour-and-delivery diversion | April (reported) |
| Labour-and-delivery diversion | Late May–June (reported) |
| Service disruption announced | July 24 |
| Unit resumed accepting patients | Aug. 10 |
| One new surgeon began work | July |
| Second new surgeon scheduled to start | Week of Aug. 17 |
Local reaction and ongoing needs
Waterville’s mayor, Andrew Harvey, welcomed the hires and said they were long sought by the municipality and by the local surgeon working at the hospital, Dr. Gurpreet Singh-Ranger. Harvey emphasised how difficult it is to operate a surgical suite with only one surgeon on staff.
“It’s hard to run a surgical suite with one surgeon there, they do need time off like everybody else,”
The mayor’s comments echo concerns raised by clinicians and municipal leaders during the periods of diversion, when continuity of care for pregnant people and newborns became a central worry for families across the region.
Horizon’s statement did not provide a specific timeline for when the new surgeons would complete their C-section training, only that it would take place in the near future. The network also did not release names for the new physicians in its public update.
What this means for families and the region
Filling all general surgeon positions is an important step toward ensuring the Upper River Valley Hospital can provide consistent obstetrical services, particularly after a season of shortfalls that required patients to seek care elsewhere. Stable local surgical coverage reduces travel times for families, maintains continuity with local obstetrical teams and can relieve pressure on neighbouring hospitals that received diverted cases.
- Immediate impact: The hospital has resumed accepting labour-and-delivery patients as of Aug. 10.
- Coverage: All three general surgeon positions are reported filled for the first time in a decade.
- Training: Both new surgeons will be trained for emergency and elective C-sections; timing described as occurring in the near future.
While the new hires are a welcome development, hospital users and local officials are likely to watch closely for confirmation that training is completed and that the unit maintains uninterrupted coverage through vacation periods, unexpected absences and peak demand.
Horizon Health Network’s announcement addresses an immediate staffing gap but leaves some operational details outstanding. Residents seeking the most current information on services at Upper River Valley Hospital are advised to consult Horizon’s public communications or contact the hospital directly.
This reporting reflects statements released by Horizon Health Network and comments from municipal officials regarding staffing and service status at the Upper River Valley Hospital.
