FREDERICTON/CHARLOTTETOWN – A new report from New Brunswick’s Auditor General is painting a grim picture of the province’s emergency room crisis, revealing that two-thirds of patients aren’t being seen within a reasonable timeframe. The audit, spanning four years, found only one-third of patients are seen by a physician within the appropriate time, and even those with urgent needs often face significant delays.

Funding Gaps and Lack of Strategy

The report highlights a critical lack of a comprehensive provincial strategy to improve wait times. Auditor General Martin noted the Department of Health isn’t collecting sufficient data or implementing accountability measures, with a framework not expected until spring 2025. The situation is further complicated by the reliance on private donor dollars at hospitals like Sunnybrook to provide additional physician coverage, a temporary fix that isn’t sufficient.

“We don’t have a strategy. We don’t have anything to show us that they have a plan for how to attack this and how to address the concerns we've brought forward today,” Martin stated.

The audit also points to a history of warnings about the growing crisis, with similar reports dating back to 1991 predicting the current strain on the healthcare system. Past governments have been criticized for a lack of political will to address the long-term care needs of a growing and aging population.

PEI Hospitals Over Capacity

Across the Confederation Bridge, Prince Edward Island is facing its own healthcare challenges. Health PEI reports that hospitals are operating over capacity, with patients awaiting placement in long-term care or receiving home care support occupying acute care beds.

“It’s really important to keep the back end and the discharges from the hospital moving so that we have enough room to accommodate those who are coming in through the ED and truly do need to be admitted for care,” said Fraser of Health PEI. The province is adding beds in unconventional spaces and utilizing overtime and agency staff to cope with the demand.

Political Response

New Brunswick Health Minister John Dornan, who was previously fired by Premier Blaine Higgs in 2022 following a patient death while waiting for care, acknowledged the report’s findings and stated he is working to implement recommendations, including a comprehensive ER strategy. However, critics point to a pattern of promises and a lack of sustained action over decades.