Release
Department of Social Development, Department of Health
July 21, 2025
FREDERICTON (GNB) – Social Development Minister Cindy Miles has approved the temporary prioritization of patients at the Chaleur Regional Hospital who are waiting for admission to nursing homes.
“This prioritization is a step toward easing the strain, but it’s not a full solution,” said Miles. “We recognize the urgent and pressing circumstances we’re facing. We know that seniors deserve better than long hospital stays. That’s why our government remains focused on delivering timely, appropriate care, ensuring people are supported when – and where – it matters most.”
The Chaleur Regional Hospital is part of the Vitalité Health Network.
Nursing home admissions are normally done chronologically, however, during critical circumstances, the minister has authority, when requested by a regional health authority, to prioritize admission of alternate-level-of-care patients waiting in hospital.
This change can be enacted for up to 30 days when a hospital is deemed to be in a critical state.
This can occur in hospitals where:
· The emergency department is over capacity and there are prolonged off-loading delays from ambulance bays.
· Acute care units are over capacity.
· Critical surgeries are cancelled due to a lack of available hospital beds.
“It’s essential that patients are in the right setting for their needs,” said Health Minister John Dornan. “Our government understands that the high number of patients in hospitals waiting for long-term care is putting real pressure on our health system. That’s why we’re working in close partnership with the regional health authorities to improve patient flow, free up critical hospital resources and ensure that those awaiting long-term care receive supportive care in a more suitable environment.”
The province has 78 licensed nursing homes, providing 5,373 beds. There are 431 adult residential facilities offering care and services to about 7,600 residents.
A total of 640 nursing home beds have been awarded since 2021 under the 2018–2023 Nursing Home Plan; 460 of those beds have opened, with another 180 currently under construction.
Social Development has been taking steps to support patient flow and accelerate access to appropriate care.
The department is working to streamline the alternate-level-of-care assessment process. Wait times can be influenced by several factors, including the time people need to make informed decisions. To support clients during this initial period, interim home support services may be offered to help stabilize urgent situations while assessments are completed.
Additionally, a senior-level working group, which includes leadership from Social Development, the Department of Health, the Vitalité and Horizon health networks, and EM/ANB, is focused on sharing information and implementing actions to reduce system pressures.
Social Development is also piloting the introduction of long-term care co-ordinators to improve service access and care navigation while ensuring social workers can focus on responsibilities aligned with their scope of practice. This initiative is funded under the Aging with Dignity bilateral agreement.
The department has also expanded funding to the Nursing Home Without Walls program, helping seniors stay at home in their communities while receiving services tailored to one’s specific, unique needs.
Social Development has also been collaborating with nursing homes, the New Brunswick Association of Nursing Homes and the government’s talent recruitment division on targeted recruitment efforts. This includes outreach through student engagement, job fairs and community events aimed at supporting long-term workforce development. International recruitment efforts have also been part of this approach, with missions to the Philippines, Belgium, France, Tunisia and Morocco.
These efforts have contributed to 514 job offers since 2023.
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Media Contact(s)
Kate Wright, communications, Department of Social Development, [email protected].