Southern Health has explained the reason behind the closure of the public health nurse office in Lorette.

Marie Lacey is Executive Director for the east area of the region. She says the office officially closed March 31st.

According to Lacey, after evaluating their services provided, the regional health authority determined the space in Lorette was underutilized.

"Mostly due to the fact that a lot of the programming is delivered to our clients' homes," she says.

Lacey says the public health nurse that had been working out of Lorette has moved to their team of public health nurses at the Ste. Anne community office. She says they feel it may be to their strength to have the team of public health nurses working together to provide a better, more consistent service to the surrounding area.

Lacey notes all services are still being provided, just from a different location.

"For people that do office visits, many will be seen either in the Ste. Anne office or some of the other office areas such as La Broquerie, Ste. Anne Hospital as well," she says.

Lacey says the preschool screening will again be offered in the community, but from another location still to be determined.