Tim Kennedy had a harrowing experience at the emergency room of Dr. Everett Chalmers Regional Hospital last summer. After nearly 10 hours of waiting in extreme pain, he started vomiting blood and knew he needed immediate help. Despite alerting the nurses, he was left unattended as the nurse looking after him had left her shift. The situation worsened when patients were informed that they wouldn’t be seen until the morning due to a major car crash. Feeling helpless, Kennedy decided to take matters into his own hands and drove to Upper River Valley Hospital, where he was treated for a perforated bowel and spent several days in the hospital. He reflects on the frustration and fear of potentially facing a life-threatening situation due to delays in medical care.
The president and CEO of Horizon Health Network expressed regret for Kennedy’s experience and stated that they take patient concerns seriously. They are actively working on improving access and reducing wait times through various initiatives, including expanding primary care services and innovative strategies to improve patient flow across the network. As part of their efforts to ease patient flow, a new assessment for alternative level of care patients has been introduced. Despite these efforts, ALC patients still occupy a significant portion of acute care beds across the network. Kennedy’s experience has influenced his decision on how he will vote in the upcoming provincial election, as he emphasizes the need for candidates who will address and improve the healthcare system.
Kennedy, who relocated from Ontario to New Brunswick, is one of many residents struggling to find a family doctor, along with 180,000 others in the province. He relies on a walk-in clinic but faces challenges in securing appointments due to limited availability. He emphasizes the urgency of the situation, stating that people are dying because they cannot access medical care. Kennedy highlights the need for government intervention to address the shortcomings in the medical system. As the election approaches, party leaders have been outlining their health plans for the province, focusing on improving access to healthcare professionals, reducing wait times, and investing in the primary health care system.
Campaign promises include changing the compensation model for doctors, increasing residency spaces for doctors in training, and streamlining the credential recognition process for foreign-trained healthcare professionals. Progressive Conservative Leader Blaine Higgs has pledged to expand the scope of practice for various healthcare professionals to reduce wait times. The Green Party’s promise includes investing $380 million annually to address issues within the primary healthcare system. As the provincial election campaign progresses, Global News is encouraging feedback from the public on healthcare issues and stories that are of concern. Voters are urged to consider the candidates’ plans for addressing the challenges within the healthcare system when making their decision at the polls.
