James Caldwell, Lead of Government Relations and Atlantic Relationships at Parkinson Canada meets with CBC Radio to discuss the availability of DBS at Moncton Hospital.

On June 10th New Brunswick’s Minister of Health, Bruce Fitch, announced that Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) surgery will be available at the Moncton Hospital through funding provided by The Friends of the Moncton Hospital Foundation and the Government of New Brunswick. DBS surgery is incredibly helpful for many living with Parkinson’s and bringing this service to New Brunswick has been a key priority for the New Brunswick Parkinson’s community.  

Parkinson Canada celebrates this announcement from the Government of New Brunswick and The Friends of the Moncton Hospital. Offering DBS services will enhance and improve access to Parkinson’s informed care for New Brunswickers. This investment into Parkinson’s care will ensure that people living with Parkinson’s can access better care closer to home.  

According to the news release, with this investment, “Moncton will be recognized as a leading centre for Parkinson’s disease treatment for New Brunswickers and Prince Edward Islanders.” Parkinson Canada is exploring what this investment will mean for our community in Prince Edward Island and how it may benefit Islanders living with Parkinson’s.,  

Last February, Parkinson Canada held a community event in Fredericton where we engaged the local Parkinson’s community and heard their concerns first-hand. They all agreed that having to travel out-of-province to access DBS services was a major barrier to healthcare. From this feedback, Parkinson Canada created a pre-budget submission, which included a request for the investment into the needed equipment and personnel to bring DBS services to the province and sent a letter to both Premier Higgs and Minister Fitch, detailing the needs of the Parkinson’s community. We are happy to see the provincial government is listening to our community.  

For additional information on DBS and if you’re eligible, please consult your medical health care professional.