Home / Health / NB 811 Wait Times Skyrocket After System Switch
NB 811 Wait Times Skyrocket After System Switch
23 Oct
Summary
- 811 callback wait times soared over 1,300% after New Brunswick's system change.
- July and August saw average wait times of nearly three to four hours.
- A Fredericton resident experienced an eight-hour wait for a nurse callback.
In New Brunswick, Tele-Care 811 service faced significant challenges after transitioning to Foundever's Virtual Care NB system. Callback wait times escalated dramatically, rising by over 1,300% in July. Average wait times jumped from 12 minutes to nearly three hours in July and over three and a half hours in August.
The province's health department attributed these delays to unusually high call volumes during the summer months. Despite these issues, the department noted that 65% of initial calls were resolved promptly. Measures such as self-service options for prescription refills and appointment scheduling were introduced to improve access.
However, many residents continue to report severe delays. One Fredericton individual waited over eight hours for a callback, only to find local clinics closed and online options unavailable, delaying necessary care until the following Monday. This situation has sparked worries among patient advocates about increased strain on emergency services and barriers to accessing timely healthcare advice.
Health Minister John Dornan had previously assured a "seamless transition" for the new virtual health-care service, which allows access via an online symptom checker or by calling Tele-Care 811. As of late September, wait times had somewhat stabilized, averaging three hours and 18 minutes, but patient experiences highlight ongoing accessibility concerns.
