Number of New Brunswickers waiting in hospital for nursing home beds increases, again
Despite promises that it’s a priority, the number of people, mostly seniors, waiting in New Brunswick hospitals for a nursing home bed has increased, according to numbers collected by the Coalition for Seniors’ Rights.
Cecile Cassista asks for the number of people on nursing home waitlists across the province each month.
In June, there were about 382 people waiting in hospital for a nursing home bed.
In July, that was up to 429.
She says it should be the province’s top priority right now, for the patient, and for the health-care system.
“I don't really think that the left hand and the right hand are talking,” Cassista said. “I have to tell you the bureaucracy actually is beyond me … the Premier promised me in 2019 in December that we were going to look at streamlining the assessment process.”
“Well, we're back to square one again, where it's not streamlined. There's that process that we have to go through, discharge planning, we have a doctor, we have Extra Mural, the file gets transferred to social development and months down the road, you're still in the hospital.”
She argues the file should be transferred from the Department of Social Development to the Department of Health, so that there’s better communication, across just one department.
Health-care experts have been saying that, by moving these patients out, it would open up some much-needed hospital beds and put less pressure on staff.
Above all, it’s better for the patient.
It was one of the top ideas in a report prepared by emergency physician Dr. Yogi Sehgal, sent to politicians and decision-makers last week, on how to help the health-care system.
“The downside is, yeah, there's no nursing home beds or not enough. But there are beds available in the whole province,” Sehgal said last Friday.
“So even if it means temporarily move somebody from say, Fredericton to Bouctouche, wherever the nursing home is, until there’s a bed available, that’s better than uncle Bob having a heart attack in the back hallway,”
Horizon Health said it’s working on a plan with the departments.
“Transfer the file to health, fix the assessments, take a look seriously at fixing home care,” said Cassista.
For its part, a spokesperson for the Department of Social Development said in an emailed statement that it’s trying some new initiatives and supports in the long-term care sector to help with the issue, including:
- the addition of a social worker to discharge teams in 10 regional hospitals to help facilitate placements
- 18 Special Care Homes are piloting the addition of enhanced clinical supports from the Extra Mural Program to help reduce premature admission to hospital
- the use of interim home support hours that allows individuals to obtain care sooner
The department says it is also working on the launch of a long-term care plan in early 2023.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
DEVELOPING Man sets self on fire outside New York court where Trump trial underway
A man set himself on fire on Friday outside the New York courthouse where Donald Trump's historic hush-money trial was taking place as jury selection wrapped up, but officials said he did not appear to have been targeting Trump.
BREAKING Sask. father found guilty of withholding daughter to prevent her from getting COVID-19 vaccine
Michael Gordon Jackson, a Saskatchewan man accused of abducting his daughter to prevent her from getting a COVID-19 vaccine, has been found guilty for contravention of a custody order.
She set out to find a husband in a year. Then she matched with a guy on a dating app on the other side of the world
Scottish comedian Samantha Hannah was working on a comedy show about finding a husband when Toby Hunter came into her life. What happened next surprised them both.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
'It could be catastrophic': Woman says natural supplement contained hidden painkiller drug
A Manitoba woman thought she found a miracle natural supplement, but said a hidden ingredient wreaked havoc on her health.
Young people 'tortured' if stolen vehicle operations fail, Montreal police tell MPs
One day after a Montreal police officer fired gunshots at a suspect in a stolen vehicle, senior officers were telling parliamentarians that organized crime groups are recruiting people as young as 15 in the city to steal cars so that they can be shipped overseas.
The Body Shop Canada explores sale as demand outpaces inventory: court filing
The Body Shop Canada is exploring a sale as it struggles to get its hands on enough inventory to keep up with "robust" sales after announcing it would file for creditor protection and close 33 stores.
Vicious attack on a dog ends with charges for northern Ont. suspect
Police in Sault Ste. Marie charged a 22-year-old man with animal cruelty following an attack on a dog Thursday morning.
On federal budget, Macklem says 'fiscal track has not changed significantly'
Bank of Canada governor Tiff Macklem says Canada's fiscal position has 'not changed significantly' following the release of the federal government's budget.