Perth-Andover Won’t Get a New Hospital After All

It looks like Perth-Andover won’t be getting a new, smaller hospital after all.

The existing Hotel-Dieu was damaged by flooding in March of last year. Health Minister Ted Flemming hinted that a smaller hospital would be built above the village's flood plain. But now, Victoria-Tobique Progressive Conservative MLA Wes McLean says there was opposition to the smaller hospital because it would have meant less capacity, including fewer beds.

McLean said keeping the existing hospital will mean it will still at risk of flooding. The closure of the hospital's operating room will still take place later this month, but emergency, outpatient and surgical services will remain in Perth-Andover.

According to the CBC, The New Brunswick Government has already allocated $8 million to relocate or flood-proof low-lying homes in Perth-Andover and the Tobique First Nation.