Horizon Health CEO John McGarry's tweets raise eyebrows

A pair of tweets from Horizon Health CEO John McGarry is getting reaction for their use of frank language to draw attention to what he calls a crisis of congestion in all New Brunswick hospitals.

Last Friday, McGarry tweeted that all regional hospitals were facing intolerable congestion.

"Horizon Health network called for urgent action in January, Nurses Association of New Brunswick is now, all regional hospitals are facing intolerable congestion. When will system sit down as one and fix the worsening situation of alternative levels of care and long term care for patients who need their hospital care? Please someone tell us what it will take? " he posted.

McGarry admits he's become very frustrated by the situation, and he feels he had no choice but to go public.

"This is a crisis," he said. "We have to do something."

McGarry says his tweet is the result of years of inaction by successive governments.

"I just had to say something like 'What is it going to take for someone to realize we are in a crisis here?'"

In Fredericton, three surgeries had to be cancelled Tuesday morning.

"In Moncton last week I asked how many were canceled in the month of March, it was 18 to 25 surgeries," McGarry said. "And those are the ones that are canceled just at the last moments."

Health Minister Victor Boudreau, who McGarry answers to, wouldn't speak with reporters about the issue at the legislature Tuesday.

When asked if he thought the tweets could be considered insubordinate, McGarry wasn't sure.

"I was appointed by government, I can be relieved by government, but while I'm sitting in the chair I report to the board of directors and serve them and advise them," he said.

McGarry says, if government doesn't start doing something, anything, to separate those who need to be in nursing homes from the rest of the hospital population, the future of New Brunswick hospitals will be a disaster.