A state-of-the-art CT scanner is now operational at the Charlotte County Hospital, marking a major milestone for local healthcare. The ribbon-cutting ceremony on Monday celebrated the arrival of the long-awaited equipment, which is expected to drastically reduce wait times and eliminate the need for residents to travel over 100 kilometres to Saint John for scans.

Vicki Hogarth and Nathalie Sturgeon – Local Initiative journalimsrm

“Now we have something that will give all our access to diagnostic imaging immediately,” said Steve Backman, President of the Charlotte County Hospital Foundation. “It supports our ER, it supports our clinics, it supports our local doctors, and most importantly, it prevents people from having to drive 100 kilometres in the winter to get a simple 15-minute procedure.”

The journey to get the CT scanner began in 2022, when the Charlotte County Hospital Foundation launched a $700,000 fundraising campaign, anticipating it would take three years to reach their goal.

“We just divided our annual income by the cost of this machine and said, Well, this is going to take us three years," said Backman. "The community stepped up, and in three months, we were finished."

Much of this success was due to overwhelming community support during the hospital foundation’s annual radiothon on Charlotte FM, which raised over $262,000 in one day. Just two months later, the Saint John Regional Hospital Foundation contributed $350,000, helping the campaign reach its target.

Although the CT scanner arrived in early January, installation was delayed by necessary renovations to accommodate the machine’s weight and advanced technology.

“The floor we're standing on could not support the weight of this heavy piece of equipment," said Backman. "The first really big job was to shore up the floor so it could support the weight.”

The new CT scanner is expected to serve about 4,500 patients annually, significantly reducing wait times in both Charlotte County and Saint John, where patients previously could wait upwards of 500 days for an appointment.

“This is the fourth CT scanner added to the fleet in the Saint John area," said Celina Bountalas, Director of Medical Imaging for the Saint John area with Horizon Health. "It’s not just a benefit for Charlotte County—it also eases pressure on Saint John’s medical imaging services, reducing wait times across the province.”

Already in use for both in-patient and out-patient care, the new scanner is already helping to diagnose medical conditions, guide procedures, and monitor treatment. It has the added bonus of alleviating stresses on an already taxed healthcare system.

“There were about 4,500 patients traveling to Saint John for a CT, sometimes multiple times if they needed a rescan or follow-up. And about 350 to 400 of those were by ambulance as inpatients," said Backman. "That meant taking an ambulance out of service and a nurse out of the hospital. Now, those resources can be used elsewhere, reducing costs and improving care.”

Charlotte County has a long history of community-driven healthcare. The first hospital in St. Stephen was gifted to the community by a resident, and that tradition of community support continues to this day.

“This hospital was one of the first in New Brunswick, possibly in Atlantic Canada, to purchase an X-ray machine," said Backman. "In 1920, they bought a Campbell X-ray for $4,200—all raised by community donations. This CT scanner continues that legacy of community-driven healthcare improvement.”

The new CT scanner is a powerful testament to a community rising to the occasion, coming together to care for the health and future of its people.