Statement on Horizon Health Network suspension of financial incentives for in-person physician coverage at the Sussex and Charlotte County Emergency Departments, effective February 15, 2025

The New Brunswick Medical Society has been informed that Horizon Health Network will suspend financial incentives for in-person physician coverage at the Sussex and Charlotte County Emergency Departments, effective February 15, 2025.

For the past two quarters, these targeted incentives have played a crucial role in keeping rural emergency departments open in these communities. Similar incentives are widely used across the country to help sustain access to emergency care in rural areas.

The impact of this decision is already being felt. The Sussex Emergency Department is anticipating its first closure on the evening of February 17, 2025, forcing patients to seek care in larger urban centres—adding strain to already overburdened hospitals and increasing risks for patients. Without a physician on-site, an emergency department is effectively closed. While virtual care has its place, it is not a substitute for in-person emergency services.

Without immediate action to maintain these incentives, further closures are inevitable. We are engaged with affected physicians, the health authority, and the Department of Health to advocate for solutions that ensure patients in these communities continue to have access to timely emergency care.

This decision is deeply concerning and reinforces our longstanding fears of a deliberate shift away from rural emergency services. It appears that a successful, proven measure is being removed—potentially to justify the introduction of a virtual care pilot project that cannot replace in-person emergency care.

Decisions that fundamentally alter access to care for rural communities must not be made behind closed doors. Our health system already faces significant challenges. We cannot afford to create new ones.

Dr. Lise Babin
President