https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/horizon-health-network-nursing-shortage-1.5178015
Patient advisory group wants more say in solving nursing shortage
The patient and family advisory council is a partnership between Horizon Health and the community
A group representing patients within Horizon Health Network wants to be included in the conversation about solutions to the province's nursing shortage.
"We're the voice of the patient, but nobody has asked us to be part of anything related to the nursing shortage," said Dr. Wayne MacDonald, co-chair of Horizon's patient and family advisory council, which was set up a little more than three years ago.
The advisory council, which is made up of nine people representing Horizon patients from different demographics and areas, was created as a partnership between Horizon administration and the community.
The council also advises on policies, practices and programs, as well as promote collaboration among staff, physicians and the community to improve patient and family-centred care.
But MacDonald said the council is an untapped resource that deserves to be consulted, as the issue directly affects the patient.
When it comes to the nursing shortage, he said the council also wants to know "how the holes are being filled," how patients are being impacted and how long they can sustain these types of shortages.
"We want the information and we want to be included in any process that's developed," he said.
Horizon said in a statement Monday the council plays "an important role" in improving patient experience.
"Council members bring a unique patient perspective to the table, and we are fortunate to have such a committed group," said Margaret Melanson, Horizon's vice-president of quality and patient-centred care, in a statement.
"Horizon welcomes their input on all matters and look forward to working with them as Horizon works toward solutions to address New Brunswick's nursing shortage."
MacDonald used an example in Ontario, where a committee was looking at ways to expand a waiting area for cancer patients. A patient representative was invited to offer input, which sparked a broader conversation about why wait times were so long in the first place.
"It caused everybody to pause, they reflected and the focus of that committee changed," he said. "There was no expansion of the waiting room. It was a rearrangement of clinics, clinic times, and the waiting time decreased dramatically."
MacDonald said Horizon Health Network, the New Brunswick Nurses Union and Health Minister Ted Flemming have all said something needs to be done with the province's nursing shortage.
According to Horizon Health's board of directors, there are about 200 permanent, full- and part-time nursing vacancies at Horizon hospitals across the province, with the greatest need in Saint John, Moncton and some smaller communities.
The Nursing Association of New Brunswick has said they are expecting a shortage of 5,000 nurses in the next five years.
![]()
With the growing number of nursing shortages, Dr. Wayne MacDonald, co-chair of Horizon's patient and family advisory council, says more needs to be done to protect the patient. (CBC)
Meanwhile, the provincial government announced it would be cutting $8.7 million in funding for nursing programs in April.
MacDonald said he has questions about how the current job openings are being dealt with and how that is affecting the overall health system and patients.
"I don't think it takes too much of a stretch of imagination to figure out that if there's a nursing shortage who's going to be impacted by that," he said.
The council plans to meet in the coming week to discuss the issue of staffing shortages, which have also caused a number of unit closures at hospitals across the province.
The Campbellton Regional Hospital's obstetrics and pediatric services was closed for almost a week earlier this month because of a lack of physician coverage.
The obstetrics unit at the Bathurst hospital was also closed for several weekslast year and early into 2019 due to a nursing shortage. In April, Hotel-Dieu of St. Joseph in Perth-Andover closed six of its 22 beds because of a shortage or registered nurses.
"We want to make sure patients get the quality of care that they deserve," he said.
"We're the voice of the patient, but nobody has asked us to be part of anything related to the nursing shortage," said Dr. Wayne MacDonald, co-chair of Horizon's patient and family advisory council, which was set up a little more than three years ago.
The advisory council, which is made up of nine people representing Horizon patients from different demographics and areas, was created as a partnership between Horizon administration and the community.
The council also advises on policies, practices and programs, as well as promote collaboration among staff, physicians and the community to improve patient and family-centred care.
But MacDonald said the council is an untapped resource that deserves to be consulted, as the issue directly affects the patient.
- 'I'm going to die': Moncton nurse describes physical, emotional toll from alleged attack
- Nurses union wants to see more security guards in hospitals
When it comes to the nursing shortage, he said the council also wants to know "how the holes are being filled," how patients are being impacted and how long they can sustain these types of shortages.
"We want the information and we want to be included in any process that's developed," he said.
Horizon said in a statement Monday the council plays "an important role" in improving patient experience.
"Council members bring a unique patient perspective to the table, and we are fortunate to have such a committed group," said Margaret Melanson, Horizon's vice-president of quality and patient-centred care, in a statement.
"Horizon welcomes their input on all matters and look forward to working with them as Horizon works toward solutions to address New Brunswick's nursing shortage."
MacDonald used an example in Ontario, where a committee was looking at ways to expand a waiting area for cancer patients. A patient representative was invited to offer input, which sparked a broader conversation about why wait times were so long in the first place.
"It caused everybody to pause, they reflected and the focus of that committee changed," he said. "There was no expansion of the waiting room. It was a rearrangement of clinics, clinic times, and the waiting time decreased dramatically."
MacDonald said Horizon Health Network, the New Brunswick Nurses Union and Health Minister Ted Flemming have all said something needs to be done with the province's nursing shortage.
According to Horizon Health's board of directors, there are about 200 permanent, full- and part-time nursing vacancies at Horizon hospitals across the province, with the greatest need in Saint John, Moncton and some smaller communities.
The Nursing Association of New Brunswick has said they are expecting a shortage of 5,000 nurses in the next five years.
With the growing number of nursing shortages, Dr. Wayne MacDonald, co-chair of Horizon's patient and family advisory council, says more needs to be done to protect the patient. (CBC)
Meanwhile, the provincial government announced it would be cutting $8.7 million in funding for nursing programs in April.
MacDonald said he has questions about how the current job openings are being dealt with and how that is affecting the overall health system and patients.
"I don't think it takes too much of a stretch of imagination to figure out that if there's a nursing shortage who's going to be impacted by that," he said.
Patients deserve quality care
The council plans to meet in the coming week to discuss the issue of staffing shortages, which have also caused a number of unit closures at hospitals across the province.
The Campbellton Regional Hospital's obstetrics and pediatric services was closed for almost a week earlier this month because of a lack of physician coverage.
The obstetrics unit at the Bathurst hospital was also closed for several weekslast year and early into 2019 due to a nursing shortage. In April, Hotel-Dieu of St. Joseph in Perth-Andover closed six of its 22 beds because of a shortage or registered nurses.
"We want to make sure patients get the quality of care that they deserve," he said.
With files from Information Morning Fredericton
CBC's Journalistic Standards and Practices15 Comments
Commenting is now closed for this story.
David Peters
"We're the voice of the patient, but nobody has asked us to be part of anything..."
Patients have no voice or choice in a gov't healthcare monopoly. What little healthcare there is is rationed.
It's a wonder it's as popular as it is.
Patients have no voice or choice in a gov't healthcare monopoly. What little healthcare there is is rationed.
It's a wonder it's as popular as it is.
David Amos
Reply to @David Peters: Methinks I would be a fool to allow anyone to speak for me N'esy Pas?
Trevis L. Kingston
Priorities…. If you cannot keep your health... nothing else much matters does it?
People die... it's a fact of life.
Yet... trying to postpone the inevitable is what makes humans stand out... what makes us human. Compassion in aiding others "no matter what the price" gives all of us hope.
The Medical Profession does the best it can... with the funds it is allocated.
Citizens voices should hold a weight above that of the "Bean Counters".
It is THEIR beans that are being counted... after all.
I'm willing to drive around extra potholes and do without a lot of things... just to have a
medical system... that keeps my fellow NB'ers healthy.
There's enough sad people in the world... we don't need more.
People die... it's a fact of life.
Yet... trying to postpone the inevitable is what makes humans stand out... what makes us human. Compassion in aiding others "no matter what the price" gives all of us hope.
The Medical Profession does the best it can... with the funds it is allocated.
Citizens voices should hold a weight above that of the "Bean Counters".
It is THEIR beans that are being counted... after all.
I'm willing to drive around extra potholes and do without a lot of things... just to have a
medical system... that keeps my fellow NB'ers healthy.
There's enough sad people in the world... we don't need more.
David Amos
Reply to @Trevis L. Kingston: "Citizens voices should hold a weight above that of the "Bean Counters". It is THEIR beans that are being counted... after all."
Every politician working in the GNB since 2004 knows that I am a whistleblower against beancounters etc. In July of 2008 I reminded the Doctors working for Horizon Heath of their "Oath To Do No Harm" before they ordered their nurses, two security guards and 3 members of the the RCMP to assault me before filing me into the looney bin under Section 10 while 3 bloggers gleefully violated my privacy. Is it not rather strange that to this very day I still don't have a Health Care Card while the Doctors and Nurses continue to deny anything ever happening between us? Methinks its because they they know I do like to litigate if need be and they are worried about their money N'esy Pas?
Every politician working in the GNB since 2004 knows that I am a whistleblower against beancounters etc. In July of 2008 I reminded the Doctors working for Horizon Heath of their "Oath To Do No Harm" before they ordered their nurses, two security guards and 3 members of the the RCMP to assault me before filing me into the looney bin under Section 10 while 3 bloggers gleefully violated my privacy. Is it not rather strange that to this very day I still don't have a Health Care Card while the Doctors and Nurses continue to deny anything ever happening between us? Methinks its because they they know I do like to litigate if need be and they are worried about their money N'esy Pas?
David Amos
I just called and tried to speak to Dr. Wayne MacDonald but gave up once I got the usual runaround because I was not the media
Mark (Junkman) George
Ian Scott
Would like to know how we get from 200 current open jobs in the province, no percentages given as to breakdown on full vs other type positions or where these jobs are in breakdown , to union saying we are going to be short 5000 in five years.
Heather Michon
Reply to @Ian Scott: It was the NB Nursing Association that said 5000, not the union.
Heather Michon
Our health and long term care systems are in crisis and Higgs could care less. He's more interested in ensuring that his friends at Irving and NB power are protected.
David Amos
Reply to @Heather Michon: YUP
Miles Long
Horizon Health is such a large organization they have become divorced from the public they supposedly serve. The Patient Advisory Council, which doesn't appear to be taken seriously by Horizon Heath, needs to be taken seriously. There must be twenty layers between the frontline worker and the CEO. With its narrow span of control Horizon has had an explosion of middle level management, no wonder complaints never get addressed.
David Amos
Reply to @Miles Long: True
Help me out here David? I read the story twice and still don't know what these folk are hoping to contribute to the nursing shortage? Money? Nurses?
Well David, when you find out what these folks are about, what they want, who is paying their bills, and what they can possibly contribute, you let us know. OK?