Temporary changes to labour and birth services at Upper River Valley Hospital

(WATERVILLE) – Clarification: Horizon’s Upper River Valley Hospital (URVH) is temporarily diverting its labour and birth services from Monday, April 21 at 8 a.m. to Tuesday, April 22 at 8 a.m., and again Thursday, April 24 at 5 p.m. to Friday, April 25 at 6 p.m.

All pregnant individuals who would normally deliver their babies at URVH will need to travel to Horizon’s Dr. Everett Chalmers Regional Hospital (DECRH) in Fredericton during these diversions.

The reason for this change is the availability of physicians to provide emergency caesarian sections (C-sections).

Even if a pregnant individual feels they are low-risk and do not require a C-section, they must still travel to the DECRH for labour and birth, as pregnancy-related issues and emergency situations can quickly arise during childbirth.

All individuals in the URVH service area who are 35 weeks pregnant and over have been contacted by nursing staff.

Horizon is committed to providing all pregnant New Brunswickers with safe, high-quality care that is close to home. Recruitment to strengthen labour and birth services at URVH remains a high priority. Please be assured that all pregnant individuals will receive safe and quality care at any Horizon facility while we work to fill these service gaps.