13 N.B. patients counted as ‘discharged’ were dead: Horizon

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Thirteen of the 61 patients Horizon is counting as being “discharged” from hospital since a “critical state” was declared a couple of weeks ago died in hospital, the health network has revealed.

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When it initially provided data to Brunswick News on Wednesday, Horizon said 22 of the 61 alternate level of care (ALC) patients that have been moved since July 15 had been placed in nursing homes.

Horizon didn’t initially say where the other 39 patients were placed, but broke down the numbers after Brunswick News asked for more information.

“The 61 ALC patients include 22 patients that were placed into nursing homes, 11 that were transferred to other Horizon facilities, seven that were placed into special care homes, one patient that was placed into community palliative care, and seven that were discharged home (some with supports). Thirteen patients passed away,” Horizon spokesperson Maggie Estey said in an email on Thursday morning.

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That information wasn’t included in the original statement from Greg Doiron, Horizon’s vice president of clinical operations.

“We can confirm 61 ALC patients have been discharged from the four Horizon facilities approved for temporary prioritization of nursing home placement since July 16, with 22 placed into nursing homes,” Doiron’s statement read.

“This represents approximately nine more patients discharged than Horizon facilities would typically see in a two-week period.

“While this shows some progress, our ALC numbers continue to be extremely high. As of July 29 we have 677 ALC patients occupying acute care beds, or 39 per cent of all acute care beds.”

Brunswick News asked to speak to Social Development Minister Cindy Miles about the situation, but was told she was unavailable.

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On July 16, in response to chronic overcrowding, the Horizon hospitals in Fredericton, Miramichi, Saint John, and Waterville were approved to move to “critical state” status, which moves ALC patients in those facilities to the top of the wait list for placement in a long-term care facility for 30 days.

A couple of days later, Bathurst’s Chaleur Regional Hospital, which is a Vitalité Health Network facility, was also approved to move to “critical state” status. 

When the move was made, Miles spoke to reporters and focused on the need to improve in-home services.

“(Moving to) a critical state does not impact the core issue as to why we’re here,” Miles said at the time.

“We’ve had requests for this in the past. We’ve been able to work through it. This is a response to the pressures that are right now going on right now. We know that seniors want to be home for as long as they can and as as long as possible, as long as it’s safe for them.

“That’s why we have our team working together, the Department of Health … the minister responsible for seniors really looking at what does a true home care plan look like?”

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