Health Minister Targets Full Primary Care Access Amid Backlog

Health Minister John Dornan announced the establishment of the tenth collaborative care clinic in Bathurst, New Brunswick, on Monday, emphasizing the government’s goal of connecting 14,000 individuals with permanent primary care providers. This initiative, part of a broader strategy to address the significant backlog of 125,000 residents without a family doctor or nurse practitioner, highlights the urgent need for improved access to healthcare in the province.

During the announcement, Dornan used a Bristol board to illustrate the target number of patients to be matched with providers. He playfully noted the disparity between this goal and the actual number of individuals awaiting care, stating, “My hope was that we would be not doing 14,000, but 140,000.” His comments underscore the challenges that lie ahead as the province aims to enhance primary care access.

Government Goals and Challenges

The government’s official goal is to increase the percentage of New Brunswick residents connected to a primary care provider from 79% in 2024 to 85% by 2028. However, during the January State of the Province address, both Premier Susan Holt and Dornan acknowledged that achieving a complete resolution of the backlog is not feasible within the current mandate. Dornan remains optimistic, expressing a desire to exceed the 85% target.

The provincial government intends for the first ten collaborative care clinics to help alleviate the backlog of 125,000 individuals currently seeking primary care. “My target is to get rid of the list completely,” Dornan stated, highlighting the government’s commitment to improving healthcare access. Despite this, the pathway to achieving this goal appears daunting, with the actual matching of patients to providers potentially taking months.

Dornan acknowledged the complexity of the situation, explaining that the anticipated 14,000 individuals will not be matched immediately. “They come off in succeeding days, weeks, months,” he noted. The minister expressed confidence that as more physicians transition to collaborative care models, the patient loads of these clinics will increase, further assisting in the reduction of the backlog.

Opposition Concerns and Future Plans

The Official Opposition has voiced skepticism regarding the government’s ambitions. Interim Progressive Conservative Leader Glen Savoie remarked, “To be able to say unequivocally that that’s going to happen, well, good luck to him, but I don’t think it’s possible.” Savoie pointed out the challenges posed by an increasing number of physician retirements, suggesting that without faster action from the government, significant progress may be difficult.

If the next twenty clinics follow a similar model as the existing ones, approximately 42,000 individuals might be connected to primary care providers by 2028. This estimate raises questions about the actual time frame and effectiveness of the initial efforts, as the province indicated that only 1,000 patients would be rostered at the new Miramichi clinic “within two years.”

Green Party Leader David Coon expressed concerns that the government’s approach may focus more on expanding existing clinics rather than establishing new ones. He criticized the reliance on community health centers and existing practices as a means to meet the ambitious clinic targets, labeling it as addressing “low hanging fruit.”

Both regional health authorities, Horizon and Vitalité, have set their own primary care goals, aiming for full attachment to practitioners by 2029. These goals, however, are separate from the government’s initiative to support the establishment of thirty new collaborative care clinics.

As the government gears up for future announcements, the focus will be on whether the budget will reflect the true costs associated with creating new clinics versus merely enhancing existing ones. Coon stated, “New clinics cost a lot more money,” emphasizing that the upcoming budget should clearly outline the government’s commitment to expanding access to primary care.

The situation in New Brunswick remains fluid and complex, with ongoing discussions about the best strategies to ensure that all residents have access to the healthcare they need. As the government rolls out its collaborative care clinics, the effectiveness of these measures in addressing the significant backlog of patients will be closely monitored.