If you live in New Brunswick, securing a family doctor remains a top priority. The province’s push to connect residents with primary care is showing mixed results. Premier Susan Holt recently provided an update on collaborative care clinics, revealing that while some locations hit their targets, others face significant hurdles.

According to a recent report from CBC News, the province still has a steep hill to climb to ensure everyone has access to a medical professional.

Where Clinics Are Succeeding

The Fredericton North facility stands out as a major win. As the first clinic announced by the Liberals, it reached its target of 1,600 patients and plans to add more. Holt called this location the government’s biggest success.

In Moncton, the Mapleton Road clinic is also performing well. It added 631 patients toward its 700 patient goal and remains on track to hit that target by the end of the month.

These successes have a broader impact on the healthcare system. Holt noted a 20 percent drop in non urgent hospital emergency department visits, attributing this decline directly to better primary care access.

Where Progress Has Stalled

Not all clinics share the same success story. Growth stalled at locations in Tantramar and Lamèque.

The Tantramar clinic attached 277 patients by April but saw little movement since then due to space limitations. Staff are currently getting a new space ready to accommodate more patients.

In Lamèque, patient attachment numbers actually dropped. Staffing turnover and a cleanup of the existing patient roster caused this decline. With staffing now stabilized, the province expects attachment rates to accelerate.

Other locations are working steadily toward their goals. The Carleton North clinic added 242 of its 800 patient target by early September. Meanwhile, a clinic in Campbellton exceeded its target for hiring medical staff, prompting the province to increase its initial goal of 1,500 new patients.

A New Way to Track Data

Tracking this progress recently became more complex. The province switched to a new method for counting unattached patients, relying on Medicare data rather than individual appointments.

This change provides a clearer picture of the current situation but pushes the government’s goal of 85 percent access further out of reach. Under the new methodology, 70.2 percent of New Brunswickers currently have access to primary care. Out of 882,112 Medicare registrants, 619,354 are attached to primary care services.

“Connecting people to primary care is a priority of our government, and these collaborative care clinics and our recruitment efforts are making a difference in communities,” Holt said. She added that the province will continue funding these clinics until every resident is attached.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the current primary care access rate in New Brunswick?

Based on the new Medicare data tracking system, 70.2 percent of New Brunswickers currently have access to primary care services.

How many collaborative care clinics has the government promised?

The government promised 30 clinics during the 2024 election campaign. They have announced 22 so far and plan to open the rest by 2028.

Why did patient numbers drop at the Lamèque clinic?

The Lamèque clinic experienced a drop in attached patients due to staffing turnover and a necessary cleanup of their existing patient roster.

Are the new clinics helping reduce emergency room wait times?

Yes. The province reports a 20 percent decline in non urgent visits to hospital emergency departments, which they attribute to improved access at primary care clinics.