The 2016 Report Card from the NBHC shows certain elements of primary health and long-term care continue to push NB health system grades downward. As a result, the NBHC has awarded in 2016 the overall grade of “C”, which signifies health system performance that is similar to most Canadian provinces.
QUICK LINKS
- Highlights (PDF)
- Detailed data (XLS)
- Health System Report Card page
GRAPHICS FOR MEDIA USE
“While there has been talk about improvement to long-term care, New Brunswickers are still filling hospital beds as they wait, an expensive an inefficient use of resources,” said Stéphane Robichaud, CEO of the NBHC. “Also, despite having greater numbers of health service providers than most provinces, New Brunswickers are lacking timely access to mental health and other primary health services. Many also lack access to prescription drug coverage, a combination of factors that can lead to complications and avoidable hospital stays for those with chronic conditions. One positive note is a new emphasis on joint planning by the health system stakeholders that we hope will permit us to award improved grades to New Brunswick in the future.”
The Report Card also provides grades on the NBHC’s six dimensions of health service quality as well as specific grades for primary, acute and specialty health services. More detailed information on the data that is used to produce the report is available in an Excel file on the NBHC website.
For the first time, the NBHC is also releasing overall grades for the province’s seven health zones which compare performance between the zones. This information will help to identify variability in health service delivery across the province and provide the health system with valuable information to prioritize improvements activities.
The NBHC has been established as an independent organization that measures, monitors and evaluates New Brunswick’s health system performance through a citizen-centered dual mandate of performance measurement and citizen engagement.
MEDIA CONTACTS
New Brunswick Health Council: Frank Vandenburg, 506-869-6728, frank.vandenburg@nbhc.ca