Thirty-two nurse practitioners will be added to the provincial health-care system as efforts continue to reduce wait times at four emergency room departments.
The goal is also to reduce the provincial wait list for a family doctor or nurse practitioner by more than half, or more than 18,000 patients.
“Horizon is committed to achieving a health-care system in New Brunswick that works for our people – and for our future,” said Karen McGrath, the health authority’s president and CEO. “The addition of nurse practitioners to our team is fantastic news for our organization, our patients, clients, families and communities, and for the health-care system in New Brunswick.”
Eight nurse practitioners will be available for less urgent cases at two hospitals in Moncton as well as in Saint John and Fredericton while another six will be placed throughout the province at locations determined by the regional health authorities.
Today @HorizonHealthNB and @VitaliteNB announced the addition of 32 nurse practitioners to the provincial healthcare system. (1/2) pic.twitter.com/pc2ojUEtZf
— Government of NB (@Gov_NB) January 27, 2020
“Today, with the announcement of the addition of these nurse practitioners, we are clearly demonstrating that we are always ready and ready to take on all the challenges that lie ahead. I am confident that with joint work and effort, we will transform New Brunswick health care to achieve excellence for our communities and for that of future generations,” Gilles Lanteigne, President and CEO of the Vitalité Health Network.
Eighteen nurse practitioners will work in clinics to be established in Fredericton and Saint John, and at an existing clinic in Moncton.
It was established through a pilot project last year.
The clinics are meant to reduce the wait list on Patient Connect NB, the bilingual patient registry for people in need of a primary health-care provider.
Recruitment for nurse practitioners will start immediately.
