The Dr. Everett Chalmers Regional Hospital in Fredericton. Image: Submitted/Horizon Health Network

The interim president and CEO of the Horizon Health Network calls it unacceptable that a sexual assault victim did not receive immediate care when she arrived recently at Fredericton’s Chalmers Hospital seeking treatment.

Margaret Melanson says the sexual assault nurse examiner program or SANE is now under review.

“I’m working with our partners to ensure that all sexual assault victims who present to a Horizon emergency department do receive timely, quality and safe care.”

Melanson understands there was a staffing shortage in the SANE program.

“However, the expectation and our Horizon standard is that there is always a nurse available within each zone during any period of time of the day or night for this particular purpose.”

Melanson says each Horizon Health facility has several nurses trained in the SANE program.

Although Fredericton has five, she adds none were available when the woman sought treatment.