Health Minister Dorothy Shephard Photo: GNB You Tube
Hospital emergency rooms are under stress in New Brunswick especially given the demands posed by the Omicron variant of COVID-19.
The province estimates about 60 per cent of patients in emergency rooms could be treated in a community setting if more timely access were available.
On Wednesday, health minister Dorothy Shephard announced several new measures designed to improve access to primary health care.
Shephard noted how about 90 percent of New Brunswickers have a family doctor which is one of the highest rates in the country but only 57 percent visit on a regular basis.
However if an appointment isn’t available with a family doctor or nurse practitioner in a timely fashion and the health need is pressing, Shephard unveiled other options before visiting an emergency room:
- Pharmacists – Pharmacists can now renew many prescriptions, regardless of whether the patient has a primary care provider. They can answer questions about medications; prescribe treatment for minor conditions, including urinary tract infections, skin conditions and fungal infections; and answer questions about vaccinations.
- Tele-Care 811 – New Brunswickers can call 811 at any time, day or night, to receive support from a nurse and get a referral to additional services in their communities. The Tele-Care 811 service has been expanded to include in-person community appointments and virtual appointments that can be accessed within 24 hours.
- Walk-in clinics and virtual walk-in clinics, such as eVisitNB – Walk-in clinics and virtual walk-in clinics can provide a consultation with a nurse practitioner or doctor for common illnesses, injuries, infections, mental health conditions and general health concerns. The services of eVisitNB are being offered at no charge to anyone with a valid New Brunswick medicare card.
- Addiction and mental health clinics – A new service delivery model called one-at-a-time therapy is now available in most community mental health centres. These services aim to improve access and reduce wait times, and are available by appointment or on a walk-in basis. More information on resources for mental health and substance use is available through Bridge the gApp.
Also starting next week, Shephard announced paramedics will expand their scope of practice by determining if patients can be treated on-site and released or taken to hospital.
During the news conference, Shephard was asked several times if Level 3 COVID-19 restrictions would be lifted Sunday at midnight.
Shephard would only say “the modelling looks good”.
She added more details are coming in a provincial COVID briefing later this week.
