(GNB - Fredericton) August 3, 2016 - A total of 11 new physicians will soon begin working in the Fredericton region.

"Our government is committed to giving all New Brunswickers access to a family doctor," said Families and Children Minister Stephen Horsman. "The hiring of 11 new physicians will help us work towards that objective."

Horsman spoke on behalf of Health Minister Victor Boudreau.

Horizon Health Network issued associate privileges for 11 physicians in the Fredericton area. Five family physicians will begin work shortly. Six specialists are slated to start work later this summer.

"This demonstrates the obvious benefit of taking a co-ordinated approach to physician recruitment," said Dr. Édouard Hendriks, vice-president of medical, academic and research affairs at the health network. "We welcome the new family physicians and specialists to the Fredericton area and look forward to working with them as they establish their practices here."

"These family physicians will be able to take on some of the people on the registry who have been looking for a family doctor for some time," said Dr. Tom Peters, medical director for the Fredericton area.

Horizon Health Network is one of the largest health-care organizations in Atlantic Canada, operating 12 hospitals and more than 100 medical facilities, clinics and offices providing medical services ranging from acute care to community-based health services to New Brunswick, northern Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island. It has 1,000 physicians, 12,400 employees and an annual budget of more than $1 billion.

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MEDIA CONTACTS:

Stephanie Neilson, communications, Horizon Health Network, 1-877-499-1899.
Bruce Macfarlane, communications, Department of Health, 506-444-4583