A crisis continues to emerge for primary healthcare services in New Brunswick, according to four retired physicians.
The number of people in the province without a family physician continues to be a serious issue.
Since April 2021, the physicians have been working together to develop a comprehensive plan to move forward.
Their report Access to Primary Healthcare in New Brunswick suggests both short-term and long-term solutions to the crisis.
Dr. Stephen Hart said in a phone interview that to address the issue it is not a matter of additional healthcare funding, but to better allocate the funding currently in place.
“Which will ensure that the physicians, the office nurse, and nurse practitioners are all providing care that can meet the demands of our society,” said Hart.
In the past, Hart mentioned that family physician offices were larger than they are today, and now new doctors do not want to take on that many patients.
“So, for every doctor that retires it can take a number of doctors to look after that same patient roster, so we want to develop a care plan that will ensure more access to family doctors,” he said.
The report outlines there is a need for aggressive physician recruitment and retention effort.
“We have two medical schools in New Brunswick, one in Moncton, and another in Saint John, and we feel there should be physician recruitment through the medical schools while they are still in training,” said Hart.
The four doctors recommend team-based care in which practices employ a nurse with funding support, and establish a working relationship with a nurse practitioner.
As well, propose that advanced scheduling techniques and collaborative staffing arrangements will encourage larger and access-friendly practices.
Their report also outlines how government, the two regional health authorities, educators of primary healthcare providers, and professional organizations of providers, can impact access to primary healthcare.
You can view the full report by clicking here.
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