Health care was the focus once again Friday during the final weekday of campaigning before the New Brunswick election.
The Liberals were in Moncton to reiterate their plan to tackle the province’s health-care crisis.
Leader Susan Holt says that includes 30 new collaborative care clinics and expanding access to mental health services.
The party has also committed to retention payments for nurses, updated compensation models, and making more beds available in nursing homes.
“New Brunswickers are worried they won’t be able to access care for them and their loved ones,” said Holt.
“We have a vision to help get New Brunswickers access to primary care, bring respect back to the hard-working health-care professionals, and provide seniors with the dignified care they deserve.”
Meanwhile, the Green Party promised a new funding model for collaborative care teams in the province.
Leader David Coon said he would ensure all team members can be paid through the health department, just as physicians are.
“Liberal and Conservative governments have been telling us they are committed to transitioning from solo family practices to family practice teams and collaborative care clinics since 2003,” said Coon.
“We’re hearing it again in this election from Higgs and Holt, but just as was the case when their parties were the government, neither are willing to commit the necessary funds to create them.”
Coon said the main barrier to collaborative care clinics is a lack of a funding model to include nurse practitioners and other allied health professionals as part of the health-care teams.
“With the funding in place we would enable doctors or nurse practitioners to establish the collaborative care teams we badly need to end the waiting lists for a health care home.”
The Progressive Conservatives did not make any campaign announcements on Friday.
Voters will head to the polls to elect the next provincial government on Monday.
