The Horizon Health Network says it’s making “significant” progress in recruiting and retaining frontline healthcare workers to serve the Town of Sussex and its surrounding areas.
It comes as the Sussex Health Centre faces staff shortages resulting in emergency room closures, forcing residents to travel to other hospital to seek urgent care.
Officials from the health authority say they successfully recruited three physicians to provide Emergency Department coverage throughout the Saint John region (Zone 2). One of those three physicians will dedicate 60 per cent of their time to rural emergency rooms.
Horizon has over the past year hired two Nurse Practitioners, seven Registered Nurses and four Licensed Practical Nurses, as well as two RNs for the emergency department at the Sussex Health Centre.
“We are encouraged by this success in the Sussex area,” said Kerry Kennedy, Horizon’s executive director of Talent Acquisition.
“We thank the dedicated health care workers who have chosen Sussex as their home and are committed to providing quality care to the community.”
The network says approximately six full time staff need to be hired at the Sussex Health Centre’s emergency department before Horizon can fully restore 24/7 services and ensure safe, continuous care can be provided.
Officials say they are working in collaboration with residents to promote the area as an ideal place to build a career in healthcare while enjoying the unique benefits the town has to offer.