Full Labour and Birth Services at Horizon’s Upper River Valley Hospital resuming with physician coverage secured

(WATERVILLE) – Horizon wishes to inform the public that full labour and birth services at Horizon’s Upper River Valley Hospital have resumed, with physician coverage now secured through the remainder of the summer and into the fall.

Horizon had previously forecasted gaps in the availability of physicians able to provide emergency C-sections on certain dates in July, August, and September, which meant that pregnant individuals in the Upper River Valley area would instead need to travel to the Dr. Everett Chalmers Regional Hospital in Fredericton to deliver their babies.

With this situation now resolved, expectant individuals are now advised to proceed to URVH to deliver their babies as they normally would.

“Horizon realizes the importance of having safe, consistent access to labour and birth services close to home, and we are grateful that, with the support of our physicians, we have been able to fill these gaps in service for the foreseeable future,” said David Arbeau, Horizon’s Executive Director for the Fredericton and Upper River Valley area.

“We have been working diligently to address these issues and are fully committed to ensuring residents in the Upper River Valley area are able to access these critical services in a safe and timely manner.”

Horizon wishes to thank patients and families for their patience and understanding while we worked through these challenges.

Horizon recognizes the value of labour and birth services at the URVH for staff, physicians, patients, families, and the community, and recently conducted a community engagement process to inform future planning and decision making. You can read the report on Let’s Talk Horizon.

The obstetrical service at URVH serves up to 500 patients a year and supported 206 births and 40 emergency C-sections in 2023.

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