The New Brunswick government has revealed a comprehensive strategy focused on enhancing the province’s healthcare system. Health Minister John Dornan highlighted the key priority of ensuring every resident in New Brunswick has a designated family doctor. Dornan emphasized the importance of universal access to primary care to promote wellness and reduce hospital visits.
The government, under the leadership of Premier Holt, has emphasized the establishment of collaborative-care clinics as a central aspect of this initiative. Six clinics have been established so far, with plans to add at least four more by the year’s end. The government has committed to having a minimum of 30 collaborative-care clinics operational across the province by 2028.
These clinics will offer a range of healthcare professionals, including doctors, nurse practitioners, nurses, and mental health specialists, based on the community’s needs. Currently, only 77% of New Brunswickers have a primary-care provider, with a target set to increase this figure to 79% by the end of the current year and 85% by 2028.
Although data to evaluate the impact of the clinics is not yet available, Dornan, a former CEO of the Horizon Health Network, noted positive feedback indicating that individuals are benefitting from the new clinics. The government unveiled six priority areas for healthcare improvement, including primary care, workforce, seniors, urgent care, mental health and addictions, and connected services.
Premier Holt emphasized that the five-year health plan aims to ensure effective and timely care for patients. Dornan highlighted “respectful care” for seniors as his next top priority, addressing the significant waitlist for nursing home beds in the province. The focus is on enhancing community health support for seniors with complex care needs and improving access to care services.
Holt stressed the importance of connected care as a key priority, advocating for the widespread adoption of electronic medical record systems among clinicians. Initiatives like MyHealthNB aim to empower patients by providing them with digital access to their health records. The goal is to integrate healthcare services digitally to ensure seamless care coordination and accessibility for all New Brunswickers.