October 18, 2024 (Moncton) – Our healthcare system is broken. 180,000 people do not have access to primary care. Eighty percent of nurses are leaving the profession before the age of 35. 1108 seniors are waiting for a nursing home placement; 550 of them are currently “living” in the hospital, and a lack of mental health services is leaving people to rely on overcrowded emergency rooms.
New Brunswick’s healthcare system cannot survive another four years of Blaine Higgs.
“New Brunswickers are worried they won’t be able to access care for them and their loved ones,” said Susan Holt. “The healthcare system has been neglected for six years and New Brunswickers are ready for change.”
The Holt team has a concrete and robust plan to improve healthcare in New Brunswick:
- Establish at least 30 community care clinics where healthcare professionals can focus on patients, not paperwork
- Retain and recruit more healthcare workers by showing them the respect they deserve, as well as retention payments for nurses and updates to compensation models
- Ensure quality care for seniors by making more beds available in nursing homes and expanding the concept of “nursing homes without walls” to enable seniors who so desire to remain in their own homes for as long as possible.
- Prioritizing women’s health with commitments to funding one round of IVF, access to free contraceptives, and at-home pap tests for cervical screening
- Expanding access to mental health services to below the national average
“Improving the healthcare system is not an easy task. It’s going to take an entire team effort,” said Rob McKee, candidate for Moncton Centre. “I’m proud to be part of a team ready to work collaboratively with healthcare professionals, patients, and local stakeholders. Our plan is informed by their input, ideas, and recommendations.”
“When it comes to healthcare, New Brunswickers are ready for transformation,” said Holt. “We have a vision to help get New Brunswickers access to primary care, bring respect back to the hard-working healthcare professionals, and provide seniors with the dignified care they deserve.”