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St Stephen Clinic Premier Holt March 30

Holt eyes faster timeline as clinic opening set for 2027

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By Nathalie Sturgeon, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The St. Croix Courier

The new collaborative care clinic on King Street in St. Stephen won’t be open to the public until January 2027, despite earlier promises from the Holt government.

Saint Croix Progressive Conservative MLA Kathy Bockus said Horizon Health Network (HHN) president and CEO Margaret Melanson confirmed the timeline to her.

“I’m told by Horizon CEO Margaret Melanson that the first patient day for the new clinic, to be opened at the old Sobeys store, is expected to be in mid-January 2027,” she said in a post on Facebook. “Melanson graciously shared with me the timeline she received from her team. I thank her for the clarity she provided.”

The clinic is currently located on the third floor of the Charlotte County Hospital (CCH) and is limited in space. It began taking patients in February 2024, but has only accepted 310 patients from the list of those without a primary care provider.

It was one of 10 clinics promised to be operating within the first 18 months of the Liberal government’s mandate.

St. Stephen Family Health Team will operate out of 120 King Street.

According to HHN, as cited in Bockus’ post, the offer to lease was signed in December 2025. Architectural work, renderings and floor plans continued in the following weeks.

Finalized floor plans are anticipated to be ready in mid-April. Construction is expected to begin in late June or early July, ending in the fall. The first day for patients would be in January 2027.

In November, Holt said it would have people in the clinic “before the snow melts.”

“We’re looking for those to be rapid renovations,” Holt said during a press conference in November.

Last month during an announcement at the Fundy Health Centre for its collaborative care clinic, she reiterated that her promise was to have people in before the snow melts.

“We’re tracking that closely to make sure that they can get into that space and get new patients added as quickly as possible,” Holt said, speaking with reporters in February.

Inside the space at CCH, Dr. Wael Sabre is continuing to onboard patients successfully, Bockus’ post said.

“An additional practice-ready assessment candidate has been earmarked for St. Stephen,” it said. “Two upcoming physician graduates were hosted on site to meet the care team and members of the town’s physician recruitment committee.”

Bockus’ post said the clinic is operating at capacity and that space constraints remain.

Premier Susan Holt, who was in Saint Andrews Monday to announce Charlotte County’s third collaborative care clinic, said she is still looking for things to be done faster than the timeline presented by HHN.

“I am hoping that we can go more quickly,” she said. “I have said a number of times I’m impatient, and New Brunswickers are impatient, waiting to get access to care.”

She said there are significant physical changes that need to be made to the building, which was a grocery store.

Health Minister Dr. John Dornan said clinicians are already onboarding more patients, but it means they will be working in cramped quarters for a little while.

“We’ll grow much more rapidly in January, but be taking patients long before that,” he said.

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Horizon identifies space for 180 nursing home beds across N.B. hospitals

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With more than 300 seniors in New Brunswick needing a nursing home bed, Horizon Health Network is hoping to lower demand through a new initiative.

During Thursday’s board meeting, David Arbeau, Horizon’s clinical executive director overseeing patient flow, announced the network is looking to identify 180 nursing home beds it could create across its hospitals in the coming year.

“We know that the space for care is not where it needs to be,” he said.

According to Arbeau, more than 40 per cent of the network’s beds are occupied by alternative level of care or ALC patients.

Alternative level of care patients are individuals occupying a hospital bed who no longer require acute or intensive care but cannot be discharged due to a lack of appropriate long-term care or rehabilitation.

With New Brunswick having one of the fastest-aging populations in the country, and projections showing the number of adults aged 75 and older will nearly double by 2043, the network expects this will be a long-term issue it will need to continue to account for.

As hospital beds are occupied, that also increases the number of boarded patients — those who have been admitted but remain without an inpatient bed.

Arbeau said the addition of 180 beds would free up medical beds where boarded and hallway patients can be moved.

“This is about creating additional spaces where we can actually move and cohort patients that require nursing home-level care in the same environment to improve the model of care,” he said.

Arbeau said Horizon identified 180 beds because that is the average number of boarded patients across the network.

He added that based on pressure points and where Horizon currently has nursing home-level care patients, the network estimates 60 beds would be allocated in Fredericton, 60 in Saint John, 40 in Moncton and 20 in Miramichi.

Arbeau said Horizon is already working to identify potential hospital spaces that other services may be able to move out of, allowing the network to “connect the dots.”

However, health authority officials did not specify how the beds would be staffed during Thursday’s meeting.

In her opening statement, Susan Harley, Horizon’s board chair, said the network continues to face a “critical and multifaceted capacity crisis.”

She said the issue peaked in July 2025, with 40 per cent of ALC patients occupying acute care beds.

Harley added that since April 2023, the figure has not dropped below 33 per cent and, according to media reports, stood at 37 per cent as of February.

“High occupancy pressures every part of our system from emergency departments to operating rooms to inpatient units,” she said. “It creates barriers to timely care [and] can negatively impact patient experience and place tremendous strain on our staff and physicians.”

Harley said addressing the issue will require “intentional, coordinated action across the health and social care systems.”

During a media availability with reporters, Margaret Melanson, Horizon’s CEO, said the government supports the network’s initiative to add the beds.

Acadia Broadcasting reached out to the Department of Health to confirm this but did not receive a response before deadline.

As of Thursday, the government continues its efforts to address the shortages with the unveiling of a long-term strategy that promises to add 624 nursing home beds to the system by the end of the decade.

During the meeting, Horizon board members asked whether the government’s announcement would change the network’s plans for internal nursing home beds, but Dr. Elizabeth McCaw, the network’s physician program lead, said no.

She said only part of the 624 new nursing home beds would be located in hospitals, as most would be allocated to seniors waiting in their homes.

“The growing aging population and the fact that we’re looking at maybe 100, 120 beds of sort in the foreseeable future, we absolutely do need to continue on the plan because our numbers exceed that,” she said.

*Editor’s note: A previous version of this story misattributed a statement from Horizon’s board chair Susan Harley to Horizon’s Dr. Susan Brien, senior vice-president medical, academic and research affairs. We regret the error.

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Horizon Health Network helping reduce hospital admissions

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New diversion teams in Horizon Health Network’s emergency departments have been helping prevent unnecessary hospital stays and reducing the high number of medically discharged patients awaiting placement in care facilities.

These multidisciplinary teams have been working at the Moncton Hospital, the Saint John Regional Hospital, and Fredericton’s Dr. Everett Chalmers Regional Hospital since late last year. The newest team began working at the Miramichi Regional Hospital at the start of March.

Their work involves identifying which patients can be supported in a community setting rather than in a hospital bed through rapid assessments.

According to Horizon, as of March 8, the diversion teams have helped more than 230 patients avoid hospital admission and have saved an estimated $3.3 million and more than 3,600 hospital days. Horizon estimates that at least 20 percent of these patients would have been medically discharged patients awaiting placement in care facilities.

These teams are made up of nurse patient flow navigators, physiotherapists, social workers, and occupational therapists who work with partners, including the Department of Social Development and the New Brunswick Extra-Mural Program, to create individualized care plans better serving those diverted from hospital admission into community or alternate care.

Clinical Executive Director for Horizon’s Operations, Patient Flow, and Ambulatory Care program, David Arbeau,says the new diversion teams provide specialized assessments and connections to services that emergency department teams may not be able to arrange due to trauma and emergency cases.

“Many emergency department visits reflect issues that can be safely managed in the community, such as changing physical abilities, social challenges, or caregiver burnout,” said Arbeau in a Horizon release.

Horizon expects the initiative to divert 600 patients yearly and save an estimated $8.6 million annually. The team’s effectiveness is monitored quarterly by tracking emergency department return visits and readmissions.

“Horizon is investing in dedicated diversion teams so patients can get the focused assessment, support, and planning they need earlier in their care journey, before they end up admitted to a hospital,” said Greg Doiron, Horizon’s Vice President of Clinical Operations. “Helping seniors and vulnerable patients remain in their homes connected to the right supports can improve their quality of life and reduce unnecessary disruptions to care.”

The Moncton Hospital also has a geriatric diversion team in a pilot program, providing immediate access to a geriatrician when a patient arrives in the emergency department with a crisis. This would make a safe transition to home with the right intervention much easier.

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SeamlessMD, a digital support tool for pregnancy and during postpartum

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The Vitalité Health Network, in collaboration with the Government of New Brunswick and the Horizon Health Network, has announced the expansion of its partnership with SeamlessMD, an accessible database to help support pregnancies throughout all stages.

SeamlessMD is available on smartphones, tablets, and computers, and allows patients to access reliable educational resources and personalized support.

The platform also allows patients to monitor the evolution of their symptoms and recovery, as well as the ability to receive reminders for upcoming appointments, which are to help maintain consistent follow-up during pregnancy. Alerts can also be sent to care teams to initiate follow-up when certain health concerns are reported.

All educational content offered on SeamlessMD was created in collaboration with clinical teams that specialize in maternal and neonatal health, according to the Vitalité Health Network release.

“The integration of SeamlessMD into the perinatal care pathway represents a significant step forward in modernizing how we support families,” said Chantalle Arsenault, Senior Director of Maternal-Child Services at the Vitalité Health Network. “By combining digital tools, reliable clinical information, and proactive follow-up, we have a solution that allows patients to be better informed, better prepared, and better supported.”

Vitalité says that pregnant individuals will receive a registration code from their primary healthcare provider or the team that is monitoring them during pregnancy.

Arsenault says the integration also helps healthcare professionals standardize perinatal education and improve clinical follow-up.

Medical diagnostic tools mounted on a wall.

14th N.B. collaborative care clinic to be established in Saint Andrews

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The province is investing $1.7 million for infrastructure upgrades and additional staff at an existing healthcare space to create a collaborative care clinic.

The Department of Health says that 603 residents of Saint Andrews and neighbouring communities who are currently on the N.B. Health Link wait lists are expected to be patients of the Saint Andrews Wellness Centre within six to 12 months.

The existing centre currently serves 2900 patients and provides primary care, counselling, physiotherapy and respiratory therapy services. Enhancements will allow for the addition of other services, including blood collection and lab services.

Upgrades at the centre, which is owned and operated by the Town of Saint Andrews, are expected to be completed by mid-April.

“Improving New Brunswickers’ timely access to primary care is our number one priority,” said Premier Susan Holt.

“By investing in collaborative care clinics like the one in Saint Andrews, we are strengthening team-based care and ensuring more New Brunswickers are connected to the health services they need close to home.”

According to a news release, the investment will also support additional staff for the centre. It states a phlebotomist has already been hired, and recruitment will begin soon for a registered nurse, two licensed practical nurses, a licensed counselling therapist, a patient care attendant, and two administrative support staff.

“Collaborative care works best when health-care providers, partners, and communities work together,” said Health Minister John Dornan. “With the support of the Town of Saint Andrews and local partners and providers, this clinic will serve as the medical home for residents and connect hundreds more people to the primary care they deserve in their own community.”

Kate Akagi, acting Mayor for the Town of Saint Andrews, says the town is excited by the benefits the collaboration will bring to its residents.

“The Town of Saint Andrews is extremely pleased to enter this partnership to enhance our medical facility and increase available services within the town,” said Akagi. “We offer thanks to the government and the Horizon Health Network for their commitment to better health care in our community and all of New Brunswick.”

“For more than 50 years, the people of Saint Andrews have believed in caring for one another close to home,” said Margaret Melanson, president and CEO of the Horizon Health Network. “This expansion builds on that strong foundation, creating more space for health-care providers to work together and support residents for generations to come.”

This clinic marks the 14th collaborative care clinic announced by the provincial government since April 2025, and is the third announced this year.

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New crisis response program launching in Greater Moncton

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A new crisis response program is set to change how mental‑health and addiction calls are handled in Greater Moncton.

The one‑year pilot will begin daytime patrols on March 11 through a partnership between Horizon Health Network, Vitalité Health Network and the Codiac Regional RCMP.

The initiative pairs a social worker with an RCMP officer in an unmarked vehicle.

The unit will respond to situations involving emotional distress, addiction concerns, mental‑health challenges and other complex social needs in Moncton, Dieppe and Riverview.

Both health networks say the goal is to reach people earlier and offer support before situations escalate.

Horizon said the model combines clinical expertise with community‑based policing.

“Car 67 brings together the unique skills of highly trained social workers and experienced RCMP officers, creating a team that can respond effectively to complex situations in the community,” said Amy Whiting, program manager of Addiction and Mental Health Services at Horizon.

Whiting said the approach helps the unit connect with people earlier, deliver timely interventions and improve outcomes.

Vitalite explained the program uses a preventative, community‑focused approach by engaging with the public, identifying concerns and offering support when needed.

“This approach reflects our desire to expand outreach programs to meet people where they are,” said Valérie Saulnier, interim director of Adult Community Mental Health and Addiction Services at Vitalité.

Saulnier added that the initiative also demonstrates the RCMP’s commitment to working collaboratively with mental‑health and addiction services to better support vulnerable populations.

The RCMP said the partnership strengthens its ability to respond compassionately to people in crisis.

“By working side by side with our mental health partners, we are able to provide more compassionate, timely and effective support to individuals in crisis,” Insp. Jonathan White, officer in charge of operations for the Codiac Regional RCMP said.

He said the model helps ensure people receive the right care at the right moment and could serve as a framework for other communities in New Brunswick.

The program is the first of its kind in the province and is inspired by a similar model in British Columbia.

The pilot is supported by the New Brunswick Department of Health, and the Friends of The Moncton Hospital Foundation provided funding for mobile emergency response training.

Both health networks stated that the initiative complements existing mobile crisis services already operating in the region and aims to reduce stigma, improve understanding of mental‑health needs and strengthen collaboration between health services and police.

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Renovations completed at addictions and mental health centre

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Horizon Health Network has completed renovations at the Ridgewood Addiction and Mental Health campus in Saint John.

The final phase of capital upgrades was part of a three-phase redevelopment partnership between Horizon, the provincial government and the Saint John Regional Hospital Foundation.

The project was announced in 2022 and aimed to renovate buildings for three programs to improve quality of care for clients and their overall experience.

“Horizon is committed to ensuring New Brunswickers have access to addiction and mental health care,” said interim vice-president of community Ashley Calvert.

“This final phase, which was the most extensive, will see a significant impact on the overall quality of care provided.”

The three phases of renovations included:

  • Phase 1 – Expanded capacity at the concurrent live-in treatment rehab building from 12 to 16 beds.
  • Phase 2 – Renovations to the in-patient withdrawal management building’s clinical space to allow assessments, treatment and counselling to happen outside the client’s room.
  • Phase 3 – Reformed the central treatment building to create a treatment classroom, teaching kitchen, art and sensory rooms, as well as allied health office spaces for individualized therapy sessions. These spaces are primarily used for those within the concurrent live-in treatment rehab program but are shared with other programs within the campus.

Minister responsible for Addictions and Mental Health Robert McKee said the project is about ensuring people seeking addictions and mental health care have a safe, welcoming and modern space that supports recovery.

“The upgrades at Ridgewood strengthen the quality of care being provided and help patients work toward their recovery goals,” McKee said in a press release.

The president and CEO of the Saint John Regional Hospital Foundation said the project was a “true partnership” that the foundation and its board of directors were passionate about supporting.

“Thanks to the generosity and trust of our donors, this important work was possible,” said Shannon Hunter. “By investing in spaces that support addiction and mental health care, we’re helping some of the most vulnerable patients and members of our community receive care in an environment that is safe, respectful, and focused on recovery.”

Healthcare people group. Professional doctor working in hospital office or clinic with other doctors, nurse and surgeon. Medical technology research institute and doctor staff service concept.

N.B. surgeons begin using new therapy to boost nerve healing

A new therapy being tested in New Brunswick could change how patients recover from nerve injuries, according to Horizon Health Network.

Horizon said plastic surgeon Dr. Alison Wong and her team at the Saint John Regional Hospital recently completed the first PeriPulse procedure in Atlantic Canada.

PeriPulse is a Canadian‑developed device that delivers a short burst of electrical stimulation to a damaged nerve during or immediately after surgery.

The system was created by Epineuron Technologies, a nerve‑care company based in Canada.

Wong explained that nerve recovery is often slow because nerves heal at a rate of about an inch per month, according to Horizon Health Network’s release.

She said electrical stimulation can help improve that timeline and may support better long‑term function.

Horizon points to early evidence showing that most patients who receive PeriPulse report improved sensation within six months.

The network referenced a recent study in which nearly 88 per cent of treated patients reported significant sensory improvement compared with their condition before surgery.

Greg Doiron, Horizon’s vice‑president of clinical operations, said the organization is collaborating with Epineuron to bring the therapy to New Brunswick.

He described PeriPulse as a “made‑in‑Canada solution” that can help expand access to advanced care.

PeriPulse received Health Canada approval in late 2024.

Epineuron said clinical trials are underway across Canada and the United States, including one in Saint John focused on nerve injuries in fingers.

Epineuron CEO Sergio Aguirre called the first procedure in New Brunswick an important clinical milestone and thanked the hospital’s research team for its work.

Wong said the team is now recruiting more participants and hopes to complete at least 10 procedures as part of the local trial.

She added that they hope to expand the therapy to other types of nerve injuries in the future.

Horizon said the work supports its broader goal of improving hospital care and adapting clinical services to meet changing health‑care needs across the province.

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‘Awake’ foot surgery expanding access to care in N.B.

A new surgical option in New Brunswick is changing how some patients receive foot and ankle care.

Horizon Health Network said its Saint John orthopedic team is now offering “awake” foot and ankle surgery, a technique that uses local anesthesia and surgeon‑administered nerve blocks instead of general anesthesia.

Horizon said the approach allows patients to stay awake and comfortable during their procedure.

The organization added that this reduces complications and helps people recover at home more easily.

The technique is led by Dr. Jacob Matz, an orthopedic surgeon at the Saint John Regional Hospital.

He is the only foot and ankle orthopedic surgeon in Atlantic Canada offering this option, according to Horizon.

The program began in the spring of 2025 and has been used for more than 50 patients.

Horizon explained that the surgeries have included procedures for bunions, forefoot arthritis, deformities, ankle impingement and other conditions.

“This technique not only makes surgery safer for many patients, but it also improves access by allowing us to perform more procedures with fewer delays,” Dr. Matz said in the release.

He added that early results show improvements in patient comfort, surgical efficiency and wait times.

Amy McCavour, Clinical Executive Director of Horizon Surgical Services, said that the initiative reflects Horizon’s focus on improving access to care.

She added that reducing barriers and offering new options helps set a higher standard in orthopedic surgery.

The Saint John Regional Hospital Foundation is funding research to evaluate the program’s impact.

Horizon said Canada East Foot & Ankle is collecting data on patient satisfaction, operating room efficiency and cost savings.

The findings will guide decisions on whether the technique can be expanded to other procedures and hospitals across the province.

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Pair of province’s hospitals recognized for reducing unnecessary transfusions

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Two of Horizon Health Network’s hospitals have received national recognition for their efforts to strengthen Canada’s blood supply.

The Saint John Regional Hospital (SJRH) and the Moncton Hospital (TMH) were recently designated “Using Blood Wisely” hospitals, joining more than 180 sites across Canada trying to reduce unnecessary red blood cell transfusions.

The program is a partnership between Choosing Wisely Canada and Canadian Blood Services.

“We are thrilled that our efforts to ensure blood is used for the right purpose have been recognized as part of this national campaign,” said Clare Wright, the manager of transfusion medicine and stem cell laboratories at the SJRH. “Helping to conserve this critically important resource that saves lives and protects health is a priority for us.”

To receive the designation, facilities must meet or exceed national benchmarks and maintain the standards.

The initiative comes at a critical time, with demand for blood projected to increase by nearly 10 per cent over the next five years, according to Canadian Blood Services.

Horizon’s vice-president of professional services Jeff Carter said initiatives like this support the health network’s strategic pillar of delivery excellence in hospital care across New Brunswick.

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