TATAMAGOUCHE: The Lillian Fraser Memorial Hospital has been closed since 5 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 17 due to the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) strike, which began Monday, Jan. 18.
Local CUPE members want wages equal to their counterparts in the Halifax Regional Municipality.
CUPE members on the picket-line at the hospital will provide minimal response to emergency and urgent care needs. The Primary Health Care Centre will remain open for the physician practicing onsite. However, all other services including the Emergency Department, inpatient beds, blood collection, x-ray services and other clinics and services will be closed.
Some measures were already put in action in preparation for the strike. The Lillian Fraser Memorial Hospital stopped accepting admissions beginning Jan. 14. Existing patients were either discharged or transferred elsewhere.
The facility a...