FREDERICTON – New Brunswick’s healthcare system is in a state of crisis, according to a newly released audit and CBC reporting. Emergency room wait times are significantly higher than acceptable levels, and the province’s long-term care system is facing a problem decades in the making.

Audit Highlights Critical Delays

The audit, conducted by Martin, found that only one-third of patients visiting emergency rooms are seen by a physician within the recommended timeframe. Even those with the most urgent needs receive immediate medical attention just over half the time. The report also criticizes the Department of Health for insufficient oversight of regional health authorities, failing to collect necessary data and delaying the implementation of a legally required accountability framework until 2025.

History of Warnings Ignored

The current crisis isn’t a surprise. Reports warning of the impending issues have been surfacing for decades, with documentation dating back to 1991. These reports consistently identified the growing need for long-term care beds and support for seniors, yet successive governments failed to adequately address the problem.

Political Response and Current Efforts

Former Premier Blaine Higgs promised changes in 2022 after a patient died while waiting in the Dr. Everett Chalmers emergency room in Fredericton, leading to the firing of Horizon’s CEO and both elected health boards. However, the province’s five-year health plan lacked a specific strategy to address ER delays.

Current Health Minister John Dornan, who was the CEO fired by Higgs, acknowledges the issues and states he is working to implement the audit’s recommendations, including a comprehensive ER strategy. He expressed optimism, stating that CEOs have strategies in place with the Department of Health.

Island Hospitals Face Similar Pressures

Health PEI reports similar pressures, with island hospitals operating over capacity. Patients awaiting long-term care or home care support are occupying acute care beds, further exacerbating the issue. Hospitals are adding beds in unconventional areas and utilizing overtime and agency staff to cope.

Alternate Level of Care (ALC) Crisis

The shortage of long-term care beds is directly linked to the high number of ALC patients – those who no longer require acute care but are waiting for placement in long-term care facilities. Currently, approximately 110 ALC patients are in the New Brunswick system, with 73 awaiting long-term care beds. While 17 new long-term care beds have opened in the past year, and another 24 are expected by the end of March, advocates argue it’s not enough.

A Pattern of Unfulfilled Promises

Critics point to a pattern of governments making promises during elections but failing to deliver meaningful change. Cecile Casista, a long-time advocate for seniors, believes there is a lack of political will to address the issue effectively. The current government’s goal is simply to maintain the current waitlist numbers, despite projections indicating a significant increase in demand.