N.B. nursing care bed shortage acute

A chronic shortage of nursing home and special care beds is causing a growing backlog in hospitals in New Brunswick, the province's largest health authority says.

According to new statistics from the Horizon Health Network, the number of patients waiting in hospital for a bed in a nursing home or special care has jumped from 24 to 28 per cent in the last two months alone. 

Hospitals across the province have been dealing with bed shortages for years.

In the Horizon Health region alone, an average of close to 400 patients are in hospitals waiting for a space in a nursing or special care home.

That means waiting a long time.

"Since June, we didn't have any empty beds, and the list is getting higher and higher," Pierre Landry, of Foyer Saint-Thomas de La Vallée de Memramcook, said Monday.

"I think now we have around 10 to 12 people waiting to get in to the Foyer Saint-Thomas."

Cecile Cassista, executive director of the Coalition for Seniors and Nursing Home Residents' Rights, said this has been an ongoing problem.

"Well, nothing is changing because there's no will of the government to set out a vision and what they're going to be doing for senior care," she said.

'No magic solution'

Cassista said the provincial government needs to put more emphasis on affordable housing for seniors — and support to go with it — so seniors can live at home longer.

Health Minister Madeleine Dubé said she is working on the problem.

"This is a preoccupation, no doubt. The increase is there, the pressure is there, but, of course, there is no magic solution for tomorrow," Dubé said.

"But I think working with New Brunswickers, I'm going to have to find some ways to help those seniors and to help, as well, to unblock those beds in the hospitals."

In 2009, the Graham government promised a $40-million investment to replace, repair and build nursing homes.

But, just last week the provincial government put a major project to replace a nursing home in Saint John on hold. It had been part of the previous government's promise.

Finance Minister Blaine Higgs said the government wants to review the cost before going ahead.

"The cost per nursing home bed has gone from $180,000 to $300,000 in four years per individual bed," Higgs said.

Landry said his nursing home was promised 20 more beds years ago. "It's been 25 years and still we're working at it," he said.