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 also closed its emergency department as of 5 p.m. on Jan. 17.
As of 4 p.m. on Jan. 15 all ambulatory care clinics were cancelled including blood/specimen collection, outpatient visits and procedures, nutrition counselling services, the Diabetes Centre, rehabilitation services (including physiotherapy and occupational therapy), and cardio-respiratory services (including asthmas clinics, COPD, EKG and spirometry).
Residents requiring emergency services should call 911 or visit the nearest available emergency department. Patients with non-urgent medical problems should contact their family doctor or call 811 to speak to a registered nurse.
A toll free information line has been set up with recorded information regarding the labour disruption and the impact on services.
Individuals can call 1-877-213-3393 to access a recorded message.
Up to date information will also be available on the CEHHA website at www.cehha.nshealth.ca.