Release
Department of Social Development, Department of Health
July 16, 2025
FREDERICTON (GNB) – Social Development Minister Cindy Miles has approved the temporary prioritization of patients at four hospitals who are waiting for admission to nursing homes.
The Dr. Everett Chalmers Regional Hospital in Fredericton, Upper River Valley Hospital in Hartland, Saint John Regional Hospital and Miramichi Regional Hospital will prioritize nursing home placements for the next 30 days.
“This is not something our government does lightly,” said Miles. “We understand that there is an exceptional need. While implementing this prioritization will assist with that need, we know it does not address the core issue. We know that seniors do not want to be waiting in hospitals, and that’s why we continue to work together as a government to ensure seniors have the right care, at the right time – when they need it most.”
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.
“Our government recognizes the number of patients in hospital waiting for long-term care has a significant impact on the delivery of health care in our province,” said Health Minister John Dornan. “That’s why we continually collaborate with the regional health authorities as they work to improve patient flow and to enhance the experience for patients awaiting placement in long-term care.”
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].