Horizon Health is dealing with a record number of patients waiting in the hospital for long-term care placement.
That has prompted the health authority to request critical state admission prioritization from the Department of Social Development for four of its hospitals in Saint John, Fredericton, Miramichi and Waterville.
If granted, this would give patients who no longer need acute care priority over all community-based long-term care beds.
“This is not a request we make lightly, however, despite the great effort by staff and physicians to care for all inpatients, the current situation across our hospital system is unsustainable,” Margaret Melanson, president and CEO of Horizon Health, said in a statement Tuesday.
Melanson said the four hospitals in question are experiencing “chronic overcapacity” due to high rates of alternate level of care (ALC) patients waiting for services through Social Development..
There are now more than 650 patients waiting in the hospital for long-term care placement, accounting for around 40 per cent of Horizon’s acute care beds, she said.
Around 360 of those patients would be discharged immediately if enough long-term care beds were available, added Melanson.
“This level of pressure has a profound impact on our entire health care system. It means fewer beds for patients who need surgery. It causes emergency department wait times to grow longer,” she said.
“It forces care to be delivered in hallways, dining areas, lounges, and other makeshift spaces – conditions that are far from ideal for patients, families, and staff.”
Melanson said they have engaged directly with the ministers of Health and Social Development over the past week to push for “urgent, collaborative action.”
She added that requesting a critical state placement prioritization is a measure of last resort, but they are now at a point where no other option exists.
“We are hopeful the Department of Social Development will approve our request so we can begin the work of transitioning these patients to more appropriate care settings as quickly as possible,” said Melanson.
