Charlotte County residents will have to wait a bit longer for a new state-of-the-art CT scanner to be up and running.
The new addition at the Charlotte County Hospital (CCH) in St. Stephen was expected to be operational sometime this fall.
However, Horizon Health said unforeseen delays have pushed the expected operational date to early 2025.
In an update on Thursday, the health authority said construction and renovations to the space at the hospital began in late summer and are ongoing.
“Once completed, the CT scanner will be delivered and installed, and staff will undergo extensive training to ensure optimal use of this advanced technology,” said the update.
“To maximize the lifespan and warranty of the new CT scanner, we will not bring it on-site until the renovations are complete, and is ready to be installed and operational.”
The health authority also clarified speculation in the community about the condition of the CT scanner being planned for the hospital.
“There have been questions from the community regarding the condition of the equipment, and we want to assure you that the CT scanner is brand new, purchased specifically for the CCH by the Charlotte County Hospital Foundation,” said the release.
The Charlotte County Hospital Foundation launched a $700,000 fundraising campaign for the new machine in October 2022.
Foundation officials expected it would take two or three years to hit that goal. Instead, it happened in just two months.
More than $262,000 was raised during the ninth annual Charlotte FM Radiothon in 2022. The Saint John Regional Hospital Foundation also donated $350,000 toward the initiative.
Horizon Health said the new CT scanner will bring “tremendous benefits” to the community by providing timely and local access to diagnostic imaging.
Charlotte County residents currently have to travel to Saint John or Fredericton if they need to have a CT scan performed.
Foundation President Steve Backman previously told us that the new machine will also help attract medical staff to the area.
