Valley Healthcare

03/08/2026

🌷 Happy International Women’s Day 🌷

Today we celebrate the incredible women in our community and around the world. Mothers, daughters, sisters, and caregivers who support, lead, heal, advocate, and lift others up; today we celebrate you.

Happy International Women’s Day from all of us at Valley Healthcare.

03/07/2026

Chemical Spill

Preliminary testing has detected traces of sodium carbonate, sodium hydroxide, and chromium that could be harmful. The chromium spill was approximately 1000 litres over approximately 14 km in total.

Those affected could be anyone who may have driven eastbound or westbound on the Vanier Highway / Trans-Canada Highway between Fredericton and Oromocto or driven on Vanier Industrial Drive, between Thursday, March 5 to Friday, March 6, at 4 p.m.

Public Health precautions:

Public Health advises those who may have driven in the affected areas to take these precautions:

• Avoid touching any visible residue on vehicles or other outdoor surfaces.

• Keep children and pets away from any areas where residue may be present.

• Wash hands thoroughly for 15 minutes with soap and water after touching your vehicle or other potentially affected surfaces.

• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth after contact with potentially affected surfaces until hands have been washed.

• If the substance comes into contact with skin or eyes, rinse immediately with plenty of clean water for 15 minutes.

Anyone experiencing persistent skin, eye, or respiratory irritation, or other symptoms after contact, should seek medical advice, or call Tele-Care 811. If you have not come in direct contact and are not experiencing symptoms, no action is required.

Environmental monitoring and next steps:

An environmental consultant is on site to assess any impacts on the surrounding environment. Testing and sampling are underway, and results will be shared with the public as soon as they are available.

Further updates on this situation, including road conditions, health recommendations, and recommendations for cleaning vehicles will be provided as cleanup and monitoring continue.

gnb.ca/HazardWatch

03/02/2026

🎗 March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month 🎗

If you’re over 50 and haven’t completed a FIT test in the last 2 years, you may be due.
Colorectal cancer is highly treatable when caught early.

🔬Why Screening Matters

• Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second leading cause of cancer death in Canada.
• It is often silent in early stages.
• When detected early, the 5-year survival rate is >90%.
• Most cases begin as precancerous polyps, which can be removed before becoming cancer

Colon cancer often develops without symptoms, which is why screening is so important.

✅ How Screening Works

Small growths (polyps) in the colon can bleed in tiny amounts you can’t see. The F***l Immunochemical Test (FIT) is a simple at-home test that checks for hidden blood in your stool.

In New Brunswick:
• Adults age 50–74 at average risk are invited by mail every 2 years to complete a FIT.
• If the FIT is positive, a colonoscopy is arranged to look more closely and remove any polyps.
• If normal, you repeat screening in 2 years.

⚠ Do NOT use the FIT if you have symptoms such as:
• Visible blood in stool
• Persistent change in bowel habits
• Unexplained weight loss
• Ongoing abdominal pain

If you have symptoms, book an appointment with your primary care provider.

🏥 Need a Test Kit or Not Sure What’s Right for You?

If you:
• Haven’t received a screening invitation
• Are unsure whether you’re average or higher risk
• Have a family history of colon cancer
• Want to discuss screening options

📞 Contact Valley Healthcare and we’ll help guide you.
We can provide a requisition and test kit if appropriate, or arrange further assessment.

📍 317 River Valley Dr., Grand Bay-Westfield, NB E5K 1A8
📞 506-305-8569
📠 506-799-4424
🌐 www.valleyhealthcare.ca
📧 info@healthclinicnear.me

Early detection saves lives. If you’re over 50, make sure you’re up to date.

02/28/2026

02/27/2026

Protecting your family's health? Stay up to date on vaccines! 💉💙

New Brunswick's routine vaccine schedule covers kids, youth, and adults—many free through schools, public health, primary care, and pharmacies.

Key highlights:
🧒 Birth–4 years: Hep B, DTaP, polio, MMR, varicella & more.
👩‍🎓 School age: HPV/Tdap (Gr. 7), meningococcal (Gr. 9).
🧑‍🦱 Adults 18+: Yearly flu; Td every 10 yrs (Tdap replaces one); MMR (born 1970+); pneumococcal (65+); RSV (75+).

Gather records & book with your provider to check status.

👉 NB Vaccine Schedule: https://tinyurl.com/Vaccine-schedule
👉 More info: https://tinyurl.com/GNB-vaccines

02/26/2026

📣 Online Booking Encouraged

To help us serve you more efficiently, we encourage patients to book appointments online whenever possible:

🌐 www.valleyhealthcare.ca

Online booking reduces phone traffic and helps you secure an appointment quickly.

If you don’t use computers, that’s absolutely fine — you may call and leave a message. Clinic days are busy, so please be patient. Calls are typically returned within 24 hours.

You can also email us at:
📧 info@healthclinicnear.me
Emails are checked throughout the day.

⏳ Please note: Multiple health concerns require multiple appointments. This helps us keep visits focused and respectful of everyone’s time. If you have several concerns, we will address the most urgent issue first and create a plan for follow-up.

📱 If your concern does not require a physical exam, phone or video may also be an option.

Thank you for helping us keep our clinic running smoothly. 💙

WELCOME!Welcome to Valley Healthcare, where we are committed to providing patient-focused community care without long wait times. Our goal is to serve individuals who do not have a family physician or experience delays in accessing timely medical attention.We offer a range of services, including vir...

02/25/2026

Three million — and counting! 🎉

The "Handbook of Children and Screens" has surpassed 3,000,000 views on Springer Nature in under a year. Built with contributions from nearly 400 contributing experts, it’s a one-stop, open-access resource for parents, educators, clinicians, and policymakers. 🔗 https://bit.ly/4awOntf

02/25/2026

02/23/2026

Due to the storm, we’re giving the weather a head start and ourselves a slower one.

Our clinic will open later tomorrow, Tuesday at 10:00 AM.

If you have email, please double-check your updated appointment time. If you don’t use email, our team has already reached out to you directly.

Thanks for your patience while we keep everyone safe and off the roads a little longer.
Stay safe and we’ll see you tomorrow.

02/12/2026

February is Heart Awareness Month ❤️

Did you know that cardiovascular disease remains one of the leading causes of death in Canada — yet most cases are largely preventable?

The good news? Small, consistent habits make a massive difference.

Here are the most important things you can do to protect your heart:

🫀 Know Your Numbers
Check your blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar, and waist circumference. High blood pressure often has no symptoms — don’t guess, measure.

🥗 Eat for Your Arteries
Focus on vegetables, fruit, whole grains, lean protein, healthy fats (olive oil, nuts, fish), and limit processed foods, excess salt, and added sugar.

🚶‍♀️ Move Daily
Aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate activity per week. Walking counts. Strength training counts. Consistency matters more than perfection.

🚭 Stop Smoking (or Don’t Start)
Smoking remains one of the strongest modifiable risk factors for heart disease and stroke.

😴 Sleep & Stress Matter
Poor sleep and chronic stress raise blood pressure and inflammation. Prioritize rest and protect your peace.

⚖️ Maintain a Healthy Weight
Even modest weight loss can significantly improve blood pressure and metabolic markers.

💊 Take Prescribed Medications Properly
If you’ve been prescribed medication for blood pressure, cholesterol, or diabetes — take it consistently. Prevention works.

An educated patient is a safer, healthier patient. For evidence-based information you can trust, visit:

🔗 https://www.heartandstroke.ca

At Valley Healthcare, we’re here to help you understand your risk and create a plan that works for your life — not against it.

Your heart works for you 24/7. Take care of it. 💙