Labour and delivery services resuming Saturday in Miramichi, N.B.

The Miramichi Regional Hospital sign is pictured in an undated photo. (Source: Horizon Health Network)

Labour and delivery services at Miramichi Regional Hospital in New Brunswick will resume earlier than expected.

Horizon Health Network said birth services will be restored as of 7 p.m. Saturday, which will end the “temporary diversion” announced Wednesday. Initially, services were expected to resume Monday.

“Horizon would like to thank expectant families and the community for their patience and understanding during this temporary service disruption,” said Horizon Health Network in a statement Friday afternoon.

Earlier this week, expectant mothers in the area who are 35 weeks pregnant and over were told to prepare travel plans for delivery at hospitals up to two hours away.

The “temporary diversion” of labour and birth services in Miramichi was due to an “unforeseen shortage of available nursing staff.”

With files from CTV’s Nick Moore

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