Horizon Health Network (HHN) said four major regional hospitals are in a state of overcapacity due to long-term care patients who no longer require acute care.
The regional health authority is asking the Department of Social Development that the four regional hospitals “be granted critical state admission prioritization status for the rapid placement of patients who no longer require acute care.”
“This would give those patients priority to all available community-based beds in long-term care facilities,” said Margaret Melanson, president and CEO of HHN in a statement.
It said the Dr. Everett Chalmers Regional Hospital in Fredericton, Upper River Valley Hospital in Waterville, Saint John Regional Hospital, and Miramichi Regional Hospital need the patient transfers.
“This is not a request we make lightly, however, despite the great effort by staff and physicians to care for all inpatients, the current situation across our hospital system is unsustainable,” she said.
It said there are more than 650 patients who no longer require acute care. Melanson said those patients cannot be discharged because they are waiting for placement in community-based, long-term care facilities.
Melanson said 350 of them could be discharged immediately if enough long-term beds were available in the community.
“This is the highest number of ALC patients our hospital system has ever seen,” Melanson said.
About 40 per cent of acute care beds are taken by someone who has no reason to be in the hospital, according to the regional health authority.
“This level of pressure has a profound impact on our entire health care system,” she said. “It means fewer beds for patients who need surgery. It causes emergency department wait times to grow longer. It forces care to be delivered in hallways, dining areas, lounges, and other makeshift spaces – conditions that are far from ideal for patients, families, and staff.”
Melanson said these individuals need to be in the community settings where their needs can be fully met and live with dignity.
“Over the past week, we have engaged directly with our government partners, including the ministers of Health and Social Development, to push for urgent, collaborative action,” she said.
Melanson said this request was a last resort and there is no other option available. She said she is hopeful DSD will approve the request.
On Thursday, Premier Susan Holt faced questions from reporters on the issue facing the regional hospitals, but did not commit to approving the request from HHN.
She described the situation facing the province as a “demographic storm.” Holt said the issue is trying to develop and provide resources faster than the aging population. The New Brunswick Medical Society said New Brunswick has one of Canada’s oldest populations.
According to the New Brunswick Health Council, the number of people aged 65 and over in the province is slated to reach 28 per cent by 2030.
She pointed to the work the government is doing to secure contracts with nursing unions in the nursing home and hospital sectors, improving access to primary care and the nursing home without walls program – which she said is seeing an uptick.
“We have a perfect storm in our ERs and a growing and aging population which is placing pressure on our hospital system,” she said. “We’re well behind the eight ball and we’re playing catch up.”
