Dept. of Health trying to resolve Restigouche bed shortage

Health Minister Mike Murphy says the province will do all it can to resolve the bed shortage at the only facility in New Brunswick where court-ordered psychiatric assessments are administered, after a judge expressedoutrage at the on-going situation Tuesday.

Saint John Judge William McCarroll wasshocked Tuesday to discover two men he'd ordered to Campbellton's Restigouche Hospital Centre for assessments remained in jail over the weekend.

Murphy says there was just no room at the Restigouche Centre.

"We understand it's archaic and something has to be done," Murphy said Wednesday. "The problem has been festering now for the last four or five years. I met with the premier; we're discussing the long-term things that we can do there, but we understand fully that a long-term solution must be found."

Meanwhile, McCarroll scheduled a hearing for Thursday to determine which official in the Justice Department is responsible for ignoring his orders for assessments in Campbellton